LOS ANGELES — Scooter Jackson doesn’t care about the 24-team College Football Playoff.
When the UCLA defensive back was asked about the latest upheaval to the sport as we know it, he responded almost as if his head coach had specifically prepared him for the question.
“Doesn’t matter,” Jackson said. “Get better.”
Those four words have become UCLA football’s slogan under Bob Chesney. He uttered them to CBS sideline reporter Jenny Dell after the Bruins’ statement win at Minnesota last week. The statement might sound robotic and repetitive, but because UCLA’s winning, it resonates and ripples throughout the roster, solidifying an edict.
“After every game, Chesney says, ‘It doesn’t matter, get better.’ So that’s kind of the mindset we have,” defensive tackle Darold DeNgohe explained.
That approach turns uncontrollable factors obsolete. No. 4 UCLA (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) jumped four spots in the latest CFP ranking, as the committee course-corrected its original stance. The Bruins face Illinois (6-3, 4-2), which is on a four-game winning streak, on a short week at 6 p.m. Friday at the Rose Bowl.
None of it – not the upgraded ranking, the hot opponent nor the game time – fazes the Bruins. At the heart of UCLA’s program turnaround lies the process-oriented way of life Chesney’s engrained into the staff and players in less than a year.
One victory away from tying the program single-season win record, the Bruins are not complacent. And reaching that achievement or surpassing it wouldn’t change anything.
“It’s just one week at a time,” Chesney said.
Chesney doesn’t view UCLA in a holistic manner. Unlike longtime fans, who see a successful rebuild when they look at this program, which won eight games over the past two seasons, become an undefeated wagon, he believes the Bruins are just getting started: “We still got a lot to do to get right with this roster,” he said.
To Chesney’s point, while he hasn’t even completed his first season, it’s been enough time to make an impression. UCLA fans hope for an extension to ensure he can stamp his flair.
That’s another factor that, as it pertains to UCLA’s current goals and its matchup with Illinois, “doesn’t matter” to Chesney.
The Fighting Illini have rediscovered their stride under head coach Bret Bielema. Quarterback Katin Houser, who starred at St. John Bosco High, has thrown for 515 yards and four touchdowns over the past two games after returning from an injury to his right hand. Chesney emphasized that wide receiver Collin Dixon is in the same tier as Heisman Trophy candidate Jeremiah Smith of Ohio State.
Illinois’ defense has held its last three opponents to less than 20 points, limiting explosive plays.
“You have to be OK with slowly moving the ball up the field,” Bruins offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy said.
For UCLA, reinforcements arrive as defensive back Rodrick Pleasant and offensive tackle Jordan Davis will return from injury. However, the offensive line lost Hall Schmidt to injury and could be without center Riley Robell, who spent the week with his foot in a boot.
Derek Osman stepped in for Robell against Minnesota and “didn’t miss a step,” Kennedy said. It’s moments like this where UCLA’s strategy to rotate linemen midgame is most effective as traditional backups have received in-game reps.
“Max effort is the price of admission in the O-line room,” guard Carter Sweazie said. “You don’t get points for playing as hard as you can. It’s expected. And when you gas out and you need a play, and someone will come in and do it for you, it really challenges defenses.”
With Chesney leading the way, the Bruins are bought into preventing outside forces from penetrating their meticulousness. As UCLA bares down a stretch that could determine its postseason fate – playing Illinois, then at Michigan and hosting No. 18 USC – it will rely on a collective commitment to remember that “nothing matters; just get better.”
Clenching tight to that can boost them into the Big Ten championship and a first-round bye in the CFP.
Illinois (6-3, 4-2, Big Ten) at No. 4 UCLA (9-0, 6-0)
When: 6 p.m. Friday
Where: Rose Bowl
TV/Radio: FOX (Ch. 11)/KABC-AM 790