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The Bob Chesney reason Pat McAfee is ‘surprised’ with UCLA football

UCLA football has emerged as one of college football’s most unexpected success stories this season, thanks in large part to first-year head coach Bob Chesney. The Bruins, now ranked No.

12 in the AP poll after a 5-0 start, have stunned opponents with a dominant rushing attack and a pair of marquee wins—including a 54-3 road victory over Maryland and a 17-15 upset against No. 13 Oregon.

Chesney, who joined the program after a successful stint at James Madison, became the first coach in UCLA history to begin his tenure with five consecutive wins, with the team forcing seven turnovers in the Oregon win. Running back Wayne Knight has been a standout performer, tallying 10 rushing touchdowns and 11 total scores this season, while quarterback Ty Dieffenbach stepped in after Nico Iamaleava suffered a knee injury against Oregon, completing 3 of 6 passes for 43 yards and a touchdown in relief.

The Bruins’ turnaround follows a dismal 3-9 record in 2025, and their momentum has drawn praise from analysts like Pat McAfee, who called UCLA one of the biggest surprises in college football during a recent *College GameDay* broadcast. Their next challenge comes Saturday, as they host Wisconsin in an effort to keep their unbeaten record intact.

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