The Bruins spent preseason camp competing against each other, pushing each other through what head coach Bob Chesney repeatedly described as the daily pursuit of improvement that has defined Chesney’s first camp in Westwood. Now, game week has arrived.

"Finally, game week is here," Chesney said. "I think now to have the opportunity to unite as a team and be able to care about those guys on the other side of the ball — not that you didn't before but they were your direct competition and now you have a chance to put it together against another opponent."

That opponent is California, the Bruins' longtime rival and Week 1 foe in Berkeley on Sept. 5. It will be the 95th meeting between the programs. Kick off is at 7:30 p.m. PT on ESPN and AM 790 KABC.

For a UCLA team beginning a new era under Chesney, the opener is the first opportunity to see what months of work have produced.

PROCESS FOCUSED
Since he started at UCLA, Chesney has been focused on the process of the Bruins getting better each and every day. Now that the regular season is here, that mindset remains unchanged.

"On a day-to-day basis, that's how we do it, on a day-to-day basis," Chesney said about measuring progress in the program. "Can we be much better today than we were yesterday on a day to day basis, and that's what we focus on and attack every single day."  

Veteran defensive back Rodrick Pleasant said the team has embraced that message.

"We're going to go out there and compete, that's the biggest thing," Pleasant said. "We're worried about the process right now, we're not worried about the outcome. The process, what we do Monday through Friday, will lead to the outcome that we want on Saturdays."

FAMILIAR FACES
Four players on the UCLA roster previously played for Cal before transferring to become Bruins: Tyson Ford, Mikey Matthews, Ryan McCulloch and Jaivian Thomas. Thomas, an Oakland native who starred at McClymonds  High School before appearing 20 games for the Bears in 2013-2014 is ready for the match-up.

“I’m going back home, man," Thomas said. "I mean, this game has been circled on the calendar for me since I found out we were playing Cal.  It is where I started off my college career, I wouldn't have it any other way, I’m just excited to go back and play in front of my family."

Thomas expects an exciting atmosphere as well.

"It's going to be packed. We have not played Cal in about three years. I was actually on Cal when we played UCLA that year,” Thomas said about Cal’s 33-7 win over UCLA at the Rose Bowl on Nov. 25, 2023. “But it's going to be very packed, man. We're going to have a lot of UCLA fans coming out, too, so I'm excited for it."

There are 19 Cal players who are local to Los Angeles and played high school football in Southern California. Thomas still maintains friendships on the other sideline.

"I was talking some trash with one of my friends up there yesterday," Thomas said. "It's just friendly trash talk and stuff like that, but, man, I'm excited."

CAL QUARTERBACK CHALLENGE
Chesney and the Bruins understand the challenge that a revamped Cal Bears team brings to Week One, especially with quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele leading the way.

"It all starts with No. 3," Chesney said referring to Sagapolutele. "He will do a really good job of throwing people open," Chesney said. "Even if you're covered, he finds back shoulders and back hips and puts it in places where a defender's back is and trusts his receivers to go out and make those plays."

Pleasant is aware of the challenge the sophomore quarterback who threw for 3,454 yards and 18 touchdowns as a true freshman last season represents.

"I think he's a special player," Pleasant said. "It's going to be a fun show, it's the first test of the season."

"He is just a kid that is very hard to fluster," Chesney said.

CONTINUING TO COMPETE
One of the consistent themes of the Chesney era so far has been competition.

Pleasant believes Chesney has successfully kept practices intense even after weeks of facing the same teammates.

"I think the competitiveness," Pleasant said. "There's never a time that you're not trying to compete. He finds a way to have an edge," Pleasant said. "There’s an edge when you get out there and you line up and you have a compete period and you have times when the whole team is watching."

After weeks of competing against each other, the Bruins finally get a chance to see how that competitive edge translates against another opponent.