The UCLA Bruins finished with a strong 9-3 record and 6-3 in the Pac-12, placing them second in the the South Division. While a loss to Stanford dampened the Bruins bowl outlook, UCLA will still be heading to a bowl game after defeating Virginia Tech in the Sun Bowl last season. Who could UCLA face this year?
Kansas State
The Wildcats are a likely opponent if the Bruins land in the Alamo Bowl, as Kansas State currently sits third in the Big 12 behind TCU and Baylor. The Wildcats would be a formidable opponent for the Bruins, as both teams boast similar talent on the offensive side of the ball. K-State and UCLA also finished with identical records on the year.
Oklahoma
Just like Kansas State, the Sooners finished 9-3 on the year and are a consideration for the Alamo Bowl as well. A UCLA-Oklahoma matchup will hinge on where the Sooners land, because if it's not in the Alamo Bowl, Oklahoma will likely not be facing a Pac-12 opponent. Still, a game against the Sooners would promise a good turnout for both fan bases, something that should aid UCLA's case.
Iowa
This may be the worst case for UCLA, as Iowa would represent a bit of a drop-off from a potential Big 12 opponent. If it is the Hawkeyes, it means the Bruins are likely headed to Santa Clara for the Foster Farms Bowl. While playing in-state would be a bonus, the Bruins would be better served playing against a Big 12 team than a 4-4 Iowa team out of the Big Ten.
Related Articles:
UCLA's 3 Most Likely Bowl Destinations
Back to the UCLA Bruins Newsfeed