The Countdown – #2

HornSports is counting down the Texas football games in 2014. For this series, each opponent was ranked according to “most important games”, which is defined as those games having the biggest impact on the program’s outlook and the 2014 season.

The main question to ask is “How would a win help bolster Texas’s national perception?“

The Countdown – #2 UCLA Bruins

Analysis

We have reached the top 2! Both of the remaining games are crucial to the perception of the 2014 Texas Longhorns.

UCLA will be a top 15 preseason team. Their schedule leading up to the Texas game is relatively weak. The Bruins begin the season playing at Virginia and then open their home schedule against Memphis. Virginia was one of 2013’s biggest surprise teams, but I just don’t believe this year’s squad can put up a fight against UCLA for more than two quarters.

This game also represents a big recruiting opportunity for Texas – especially since it is at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. UCLA has signed three recruits from the state of Texas in each of the past two recruiting classes. Each one of those recruits was recruited by Texas but chose to sign with UCLA. Those Texas kids will now be playing on Texas soil in an NFL stadium that many of them aspire to play in one day. Additionally, UCLA’s head coach, Jim Mora Jr., has had plenty of NFL draft success lately (while Texas hasn’t put it’s players in a good position to get highly drafted). Add all that up and not only is it important for the Longhorns to make a positive impression on their own recruits, but it’s also crucial for Texas to kill UCLA’s recruiting momentum inside the state.

Beyond recruiting, this will be a measuring stick game for Charlie Strong and the program he is trying to build. The UCLA game represents the first true test to see if the changes Strong made in the offseason have led to a better football product on the field. Simply put, this game will be nationally relevant because of all the story lines.

About the University of California – Los Angeles

The University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA) was established in 1882 but didn’t join the UC system until 1919 and has been a leader in academic innovation ever since. It’s Business, Education, Engineering, Law, and Medical programs are all ranked in the top 20 in the nation. UCLA’s Nursing and Public Affairs programs are ranked in the top 25 nationally. Other majors are also highly ranked highly: Clinical Psychology is 1st in the nation; Fine Arts, Mathematics, History and Public health are all ranked in the top 10 of their respective field.

Being a school with top tier academics makes UCLA a very popular school within California and nationally. Even with an enrollment of over 42,000, UCLA is only able to accept 18% of applicants. Notable alumni include Rudy star Sean Astin, Jack Black, Jackie Robinson, Matt Damon, Mark Harmon, Tim Robbins, Jim Morrison, Johnnie Cochran, and US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

The UCLA athletics program is the most successful NCAA athletics program in the nation. With 125 national championships, they are “the program of champions.” However, the football program has won only one national championship (1954), while the cross-town rival USC Trojans have won 11. The Bruins have one Heisman Trophy winner – Gary Beban in 1967. Notable football alumni include Troy Aikman, Jonathan Ogden, and Jimmy Johnson.