Bruins' Tempers Flare in Camp, Foster Loves It

UCLA players are ready to hit someone else as Saturday's Utah matchup looms.

Sep 21, 2024; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach DeShaun Foster looks on during the second half against the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images | Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

After weeks of drilling, hitting and going to war against the same person at camp, it's natural that UCLA players' tempers are rising ahead of Saturday's season opener against Utah.

Is that a good thing, though? Bruins coach DeShaun Foster thinks so.

Jul 24, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UCLA head coach DeShaun Foster speaks to the media during the Big Ten NCAA college football media days at Mandalay Bay Resort. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images | Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images

"I tell them all the time, like, you just got to get right to that edge and be able to turn around and come down," Foster said during Monday's media availability. "Push it right to the edge. But that's what competition does. They've had a lot of opportunity now that we're able to bring competition to certain positions and let guys compete, and that's when you get the chippy stuff happening.

"But, as long as people aren't taking it into the locker room, we're good to go. And none of that has spilled over into that."

Briuns players can look forward to hitting someone else when they take on Utah at the Rose Bowl at 8 p.m. PT on Saturday, a game that may define UCLA's season.

Why Utah is UCLA's Most Important Game

Utah Utes defensive end Mika Tafua (42) sports a rose design on the helmet prior to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan. 1, 2022. College Football Rose Bowl | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

UCLA's season opener against Utah is, in my opinion, the perfect storm for setting the tone on a new season headlined by massive acquisitions and change. The Bruins are going to be underdogs against the Utes. What better way to announce you're here than starting the season off with a bang?

A win over Utah not only sets the precedent for UCLA football for the rest of the season, but it also gives the Bruins a head start on a pretty favorable first half of the season.

Walk with me. If UCLA defeats Utah to open the season, further confirming the type of team many expect the Bruins to be, there is a realistic path to a 6-1 start, with wins over UNLV, New Mexico and Northwestern in the next three games, a penciled-in loss to Penn State after that, and then favorable matchups against Michigan State and Maryland after that.

It all starts with Week 1.

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