Updated 10:47 PM EDT, Mon, Mar 18, 2024

UCLA Football 2014: Can the Red-Hot Bruins Make the College Football Playoff? [VOTE]

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It took some time, but people are finally talking about the UCLA Bruins the way that they wanted to be talked about since the beginning of the season. They played at an all-time high against the Arizona State University Sun Devils on Thursday night in a very convincing 62-27 victory. Now that they seem to have made such huge strides it remains to be seen: can this team deliver on its potential and make it to the PAC-12 championship and the inaugural College Football Playoff?

If junior red-shirt quarterback Brent Hundley plays at the level he did, they certainly have a good shot at winning the divisional championship. With them beating ASU, the PAC-12 South is wide open for someone to take advantage of and UCLA has the best shot at doing it. If Hundley can keep this momentum going, with 18 of 23 passes completed last night for 355 yards, he might have a chance to wrestle the PAC-12 title away from the #2 ranked Oregon Ducks, leaders of the PAC-12 North.

Of course a quarterback is only as good as his receivers, and Hundley and Jordan Payton are rapidly building a strong partnership between each other. Payton knows how to take queues from Hundley's passing patterns and is the go-to person for the quarterback to move the chains down field. He made five catches for 151 yards and two touchdowns. More importantly than his statistics, though, is his consistency. He can make big plays more often now.

UCLA even looked to prove something to all of the doubters so far this season. They have been undefeated so far, but that has not stopped the press and fans from calling out a lack of the dominance that was promised from early looks at the team. They seemed intent to prove a point in this game. The Bruins played angry for the first time and it clearly paid dividends for them.

However, it is not all good news. UCLA's defense still is not up to snuff. They aren't as bad as some would have you believe, but Arizona State passing for 488 yards is not going to cut it, no matter how many points you put on the board. Plus, the defense simply refuses to blitz and put any pressure on the quarterback. Pressure is important but, the defense's job is to make the quarterback never feel safe, and sacks are a critical part of that.

So is UCLA going to be able to make it to the final four? Will they fix their problems and be able make it even farther than that? Cast your vote and let us know!

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