What Is 1949 UCLA Bruins football team

Content on WhatAnswers is provided "as is" for informational purposes. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees. Content is AI-assisted and should not be used as professional advice.

Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1949 UCLA Bruins football team represented the University of California, Los Angeles during the 1949 college football season, finishing with a 5–4–1 record under head coach Bert LaBrucherie and competing in the Pacific Coast Conference.

Key Facts

The 1949 UCLA Bruins football team had a final record of 5–4–1.
Head coach Bert LaBrucherie led the team during his third season at UCLA.
The Bruins played their home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
They competed in the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) and finished with a 3–3–1 conference record.
UCLA defeated rivals USC 34–14 in a key rivalry game on November 26, 1949.

Overview

The 1949 UCLA Bruins football team represented the University of California, Los Angeles during the 1949 college football season. Competing in the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC), the team was led by head coach Bert LaBrucherie in his third year at the helm. Despite a modest overall record, the season included a notable victory over crosstown rival USC.

The Bruins played their home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, a venue shared with professional teams and other college programs. The 1949 season marked a transitional period for UCLA football as it sought greater national recognition. While not a championship contender, the team showed flashes of offensive strength and defensive resilience.

Record: The team finished with a 5–4–1 overall record, including a 3–3–1 mark in the Pacific Coast Conference.
Head Coach:Bert LaBrucherie was in his third season, compiling a 5–4–1 record in 1949 for a career UCLA record of 14–15–2.
Home Stadium: The Bruins played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which had a seating capacity of over 90,000 at the time.
Key Victory: UCLA defeated USC 34–14 on November 26, 1949, one of the most decisive wins in the rivalry up to that point.
Scoring: The team scored a total of 161 points while allowing 145, indicating a relatively balanced performance on both sides of the ball.

Season Performance

The 1949 campaign featured a mix of wins against weaker opponents and narrow losses to stronger PCC teams. The Bruins opened the season with a win over Loyola and showed promise early, though inconsistency plagued their conference performance.

September Results: UCLA began 2–0, defeating Loyola 26–0 and Washington State 20–13 in non-conference matchups.
October Struggles: The team lost three of four games in October, including defeats to California 13–7 and Oregon State 20–7.
November Surge: After a mid-season slump, the Bruins rebounded with a 34–14 win over USC and a 20–14 victory over Oregon.
Defensive Effort: The defense held opponents under 20 points in five games, but struggled in losses to stronger PCC competition.
Final Game: The season concluded with a 20–14 win over Oregon, finishing with a winning home record of 4–2 at the Coliseum.

Comparison at a Glance

The 1949 UCLA season can be better understood by comparing it to adjacent years in terms of record, conference performance, and key outcomes.

Season	Overall Record	PCC Record	Head Coach	Key Result
1947	4–5–1	3–4–1	Bert LaBrucherie	First year under LaBrucherie
1948	4–5–1	3–4–1	Bert LaBrucherie	Scored 133 points, allowed 137
1949	5–4–1	3–3–1	Bert LaBrucherie	Beat USC 34–14
1950	5–4–1	4–3	Bert LaBrucherie	Improved PCC performance
1951	9–1–1	5–1–1	Red Sanders	First Rose Bowl appearance

The 1949 season represented a slight improvement over previous years, with the same overall record as 1948 but a stronger showing against USC. While not a breakthrough season, it laid groundwork for future success under new leadership by 1951.

Why It Matters

Though not a standout season in UCLA football history, the 1949 campaign holds significance for its role in the program’s evolution and rivalry dynamics. The team’s performance reflected broader trends in West Coast college football during the late 1940s.

Rivalry Momentum: The 34–14 win over USC was a major morale boost and one of UCLA’s most dominant performances in the rivalry to date.
Coaching Transition: Bert LaBrucherie’s tenure ended after 1950, paving the way for Red Sanders, who led UCLA to national prominence.
Program Development: The 1949 season was part of a gradual climb toward respectability for a program still building its identity.
Coliseum Legacy: Playing at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum gave UCLA exposure and prestige, even without national rankings.
Recruiting Base: Strong local talent, especially from Southern California high schools, began forming the core of future successful teams.
Historical Context: The 1949 season occurred just before the NCAA began more formalized national rankings and bowl structures in the 1950s.

The 1949 UCLA Bruins may not be remembered for championships, but they contributed to the foundation that led to the program’s rise in the 1950s, making the season a quiet but important chapter in the team’s history.