What Is 1941 UCLA Bruins football team

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1941 UCLA Bruins football team represented UCLA during the 1941 college football season, finishing with a 5–5–1 record under head coach Edwin C. Horrell. They played in the Pacific Coast Conference and were outscored 142–131 for the season.

Key Facts

The 1941 UCLA Bruins finished with a 5–5–1 overall record
Head coach Edwin C. Horrell led the team in his fifth season
They played in the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC), going 3–4–1 in conference play
The team was outscored 142–131 over 11 games
Home games were played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Overview

The 1941 UCLA Bruins football team represented the University of California, Los Angeles during the 1941 college football season. Competing in the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC), the team was led by head coach Edwin C. Horrell, who was in his fifth year at the helm. Despite a balanced win-loss record, the season reflected transitional challenges as UCLA continued building its football program.

The Bruins played their home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, a venue shared with USC and other major teams. The 1941 season occurred just before the United States entered World War II, which would significantly impact college athletics in the following years. While not a championship contender, the team showed flashes of competitiveness in a tough conference.

Record: The team finished with a 5–5–1 overall record, marking a slight improvement from the previous season’s 5–4–1 mark.
Conference play: In the Pacific Coast Conference, UCLA went 3–4–1, placing them in the lower half of the league standings.
Scoring: The Bruins were outscored 142–131 for the season, indicating closely contested games throughout the year.
Head coach: Edwin C. Horrell remained head coach for his fifth consecutive season, continuing a period of stability in the program.
Home field: All home games were held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, a 100,000-seat stadium located in Exposition Park.

Season Performance

The 1941 season featured a mix of wins, losses, and one tie, reflecting the team’s inconsistency against both conference and non-conference opponents. Games were hard-fought, with several decided by narrow margins, highlighting the competitive nature of the PCC at the time.

September 27: UCLA opened with a 20–0 win over Santa Clara, showing strong defensive effort in the season opener.
October 4: A 14–0 victory over Idaho demonstrated UCLA’s ability to dominate weaker opponents on both sides of the ball.
October 11: The team tied 7–7 with Stanford, a result that kept them competitive in the PCC standings early in the season.
October 25: A 20–0 shutout loss to Washington marked a turning point, as the Bruins struggled against stronger conference rivals.
November 1: A 19–13 win over Oregon State provided a brief resurgence in the middle of a difficult stretch.
November 15: A 14–7 loss to USC in the crosstown rivalry game underscored the gap between UCLA and more established programs.

Comparison at a Glance

UCLA’s 1941 performance can be better understood by comparing it to other PCC teams and recent seasons. The table below highlights key statistics and outcomes.

Team	Overall Record	PCC Record	Points For	Points Against
UCLA Bruins	5–5–1	3–4–1	131	142
Washington Huskies	6–4	5–2	162	116
Stanford Indians	6–4	4–3	161	101
USC Trojans	2–6–1	2–4–1	98	151
Oregon State	8–2	6–1	178	77

UCLA’s performance placed them mid-pack in the PCC, behind powerhouses like Oregon State, who went 8–2 and won the conference. While the Bruins scored fewer points than most top teams, their defensive lapses—especially against Washington and USC—proved costly. The season highlighted the need for stronger offensive consistency and depth, which would become priorities in the coming years.

Why It Matters

The 1941 season is a snapshot of UCLA football during a formative era, just before World War II reshaped college sports. Though not a standout year, it contributed to the long-term development of the program.

Program growth: The season helped lay the foundation for future improvements under subsequent coaching leadership.
Historical context: Occurring just weeks before Pearl Harbor, the season was one of the last unaffected by wartime disruptions.
Rivalry continuity: The annual game against USC continued, reinforcing one of college football’s enduring rivalries.
Player development: Several players from this team would later serve in the military, reflecting broader national trends.
Stadium legacy: Playing at the Coliseum linked UCLA to a major athletic venue, enhancing visibility and prestige.
Conference dynamics: The PCC competition prepared UCLA for future success as the conference evolved into the Pac-12.

While the 1941 UCLA Bruins did not achieve national recognition, their season remains a piece of the university’s athletic history. It illustrates the challenges and progress of a developing football program on the cusp of major historical changes.