What Is 2009 UCLA Bruins football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2009 UCLA Bruins football team finished the season with a 7-6 record, competing in the Pacific-10 Conference under head coach Rick Neuheisel, and played in the EagleBank Bowl against Temple, losing 30-3. This marked UCLA's first bowl appearance since 2006.

Key Facts

Finished with a 7-6 overall record and 4-5 in Pac-10 Conference play
Head coach Rick Neuheisel led the team in his second season
Played in the EagleBank Bowl on December 29, 2009
Lost to Temple Owls 30-3 in the bowl game
Quarterback Kevin Prince and running back Johnathan Franklin were key players

Overview

The 2009 UCLA Bruins football team represented the University of California, Los Angeles in the NCAA Division I FBS football season. Competing in the Pacific-10 Conference, the team was led by second-year head coach Rick Neuheisel and played their home games at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

This season marked a turning point for UCLA after three consecutive losing seasons, as they returned to postseason play for the first time since 2006. Despite inconsistent conference performance, the team secured a bowl berth with a winning record and aimed to rebuild its national reputation.

7-6 overall record: The Bruins finished the season with seven wins and six losses, including a 4-5 mark in Pac-10 play, showing marked improvement from previous years.
EagleBank Bowl appearance: UCLA participated in the EagleBank Bowl on December 29, 2009, their first bowl game since the 2006 season, signaling a return to competitive relevance.
Loss to Temple: The Bruins were defeated 30-3 by the Temple Owls in the bowl game, a disappointing end that highlighted offensive struggles throughout the season.
Quarterback rotation: Kevin Prince started most games, but injuries led to multiple quarterbacks seeing action, including Richard Brehaut and Kevin Craft, disrupting offensive consistency.
Johnathan Franklin: As a freshman, Franklin emerged as a key offensive weapon, rushing for 607 yards and one touchdown, setting the stage for a standout collegiate career.

Season Performance and Key Players

The 2009 campaign featured a mix of promising moments and setbacks, particularly on offense, where turnovers and inconsistency hindered progress. Defensively, UCLA showed flashes of strength but struggled to contain high-powered opponents, especially in conference matchups.

Defensive improvement: The Bruins allowed an average of 23.5 points per game, a notable improvement from 2008, thanks to a more disciplined secondary and linebacker play.
Offensive struggles: UCLA averaged only 20.2 points per game, ranking near the bottom of the Pac-10, with frequent turnovers undermining scoring opportunities.
Key win against Arizona: A 23-20 victory over Arizona in October provided momentum, with Prince throwing for 215 yards and a touchdown in a tightly contested game.
Loss to USC: The annual rivalry game ended in a 28-14 defeat to crosstown rival USC, continuing a losing streak that dated back to 2004.
Defensive standout Alterraun Verner: A senior cornerback, Verner recorded four interceptions and earned First Team All-Pac-10 honors, anchoring the defensive backfield.
Special teams issues: Kicker Kai Forbath missed three field goals during the season, including a crucial one against Stanford, impacting close-game outcomes.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 2009 UCLA Bruins with the previous season and a top Pac-10 team that year:

Team	Overall Record	Conference Record	Bowl Result	Points Per Game
2009 UCLA Bruins	7-6	4-5	Lost EagleBank Bowl (30-3 vs Temple)	20.2
2008 UCLA Bruins	4-8	2-7	No bowl appearance	18.7
2009 Oregon Ducks	10-3	8-1	Won Rose Bowl (42-31 vs Ohio State)	35.8
2009 USC Trojans	9-4	5-4	Won Emerald Bowl (24-13 vs Boston College)	32.5
2009 California Golden Bears	8-5	5-4	Lost Poinsettia Bowl (35-28 vs Utah)	26.2

The table illustrates UCLA's modest improvement over 2008 but also highlights the gap between the Bruins and top-tier Pac-10 programs like Oregon. While UCLA returned to bowl eligibility, offensive inefficiency and a lack of depth prevented a breakout season. The team’s performance reflected transitional progress under Neuheisel, setting modest expectations for future development.

Why It Matters

The 2009 season was significant for UCLA as it represented a step toward restoring competitiveness after years of decline. Reaching a bowl game revitalized fan interest and provided valuable experience for a young roster.

Bowl eligibility: Ending a three-year bowl drought boosted morale and signaled potential program stabilization under Neuheisel’s leadership.
Player development: The season allowed young players like Johnathan Franklin and Akeem Ayers to gain experience, both of whom became key contributors in later seasons.
Recruiting momentum: A winning record and bowl appearance helped UCLA attract higher-rated recruits in the following classes.
Coaching evaluation: The season provided Neuheisel a platform to prove his system, though continued offensive struggles led to growing scrutiny in subsequent years.
Rivalry context: The loss to USC extended a painful streak, underscoring the challenge of competing with the Trojans during their dominant era.
Foundation for 2010s: Though not a breakthrough year, 2009 laid groundwork for future competitiveness, especially on defense and special teams.

While the 2009 UCLA Bruins did not achieve national prominence, the season marked a crucial phase in the program’s rebuilding process. It demonstrated incremental progress and set the stage for future development under evolving leadership.