First three games against outmatched competition:
YEAR SPREAD/WINNING MARGIN2026 29.5/6 29.5/11 30.5/21
2025 22.0/35 26.0/31 23.5/40
2024 29.0/31 25.0/18 34.5/20
2023 25.5/26 20.0/24 20.5/30
2022 23.0/37 26.5/21 26.0/35
2021 19.5/26 20.5/27
2020 21.5/26 22.0/29 20.0/19
Every one of these games before this season resulted in a UCLA blowout. Most beat the spread except for 2024 which ended up as a losing season (16-17). One can't blame having new players since (a) we have three returning starters which is more than most programs and (b) last season we had one returning starter and began 10-1 with the three biggest blowout wins.
Now we didn't have our starting five for two of the games which could be an excuse, but anyone we put on the floor of our top seven should have won more easily. These results could be a big red flag for the season or maybe just an abberation. We will know a lot more Friday.