UCLA's Duke Clemens was named  to the watch list for The Rimington Trophy in an announcement on Friday. The Rimington Trophy is awarded to the most outstanding center in NCAA Div. I FBS football. This year, the Trophy committee worked with Pro Football Focus (PFF) to narrow down its list to the top 40 centers. PFF grades every player on every play of each game on how well they execute their assignment.
 
Clemens was the starter in all 13 games at center last season and helped clear the way for the Bruins to average over 200 yards per game on the ground for the third straight season (237.2 - sixth in FBS). The team had nine 200-yard rushing games, three of 300-plus yards, and topped the Pac-12 in rushing for the first time since 1976. Running back Zach Charbonnet paced the league in rushing average (135.9, fourth in NCAA) and led the nation in all-purpose yardage. The Bruins offensive line was selected as a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award which is presented each year to the nation's top O-line.
 
The Bruins open the 2023 season on Sept. 2 at Rose Bowl Stadium against Coastal Carolina. That game will be televised by ESPN and begin at 7:30 p.m. UCLA will travel to play at San Diego State on Sept. 9 at 4:30 p.m. on CBS before returning to Pasadena to host North Carolina Central on Sept. 16 at 2 p.m. on the Pac-12 Networks to complete the non-conference slat