What Is 2011 UCLA Bruins football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2011 UCLA Bruins football team finished with a 6–8 record under head coach Rick Neuheisel, losing the Holiday Bowl 27–17 to Baylor. The team played its home games at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

Key Facts

The 2011 UCLA Bruins finished with a 6–8 overall record and 5–4 in Pac-12 Conference play.
Head coach Rick Neuheisel was fired after the season, ending his four-year tenure with a 21–29 record.
UCLA lost the 2011 Holiday Bowl 27–17 to the Baylor Bears on December 27, 2011.
Quarterback Richard Brehaut started most games but was replaced by Mike Fafaul late in the season.
The Bruins played home games at the historic Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California.

Overview

The 2011 UCLA Bruins football team represented the University of California, Los Angeles in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Competing in the Pac-12 Conference's South Division, the team struggled with consistency under head coach Rick Neuheisel, who was in his fourth and final year leading the program.

Despite a promising start, the Bruins faltered late in the season, finishing with a losing record and narrowly qualifying for a bowl game. Their performance culminated in a disappointing loss in the Holiday Bowl, sealing Neuheisel's departure and ushering in a new era under incoming head coach Jim Mora.

Record: The team finished with a 6–8 overall record, including a 5–4 mark in Pac-12 Conference play, placing third in the South Division.
Head Coach: Rick Neuheisel was dismissed after the season, ending a four-year tenure that produced a 21–29 overall record and no conference championships.
Bowl Game: UCLA participated in the 2011 Holiday Bowl on December 27, losing 27–17 to the Baylor Bears at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.
Quarterback Situation: Richard Brehaut started six games, but injuries led to Mike Fafaul and Brett Hundley seeing action, with Hundley emerging as the future starter.
Home Stadium: The Bruins played home games at the historic Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California, which has a seating capacity of over 91,000.

Season Performance and Key Events

The 2011 season was marked by offensive inconsistency, defensive lapses, and coaching uncertainty. UCLA entered the year with modest expectations but failed to build momentum despite several close games and a strong non-conference start.

Early Season: UCLA began 3–0, defeating Rice, San Jose State, and Houston, with a dramatic 31–14 win over the Cougars drawing national attention.
Conference Struggles: The team went 2–4 in its first six Pac-12 games, including losses to Stanford (48–14) and Oregon (60–13), exposing defensive vulnerabilities.
Offensive Output: UCLA averaged 24.8 points per game, ranking 78th nationally, with only 2,950 total passing yards on the season.
Defensive Performance: The Bruins allowed 28.4 points per game, with the defense surrendering over 400 yards per game in several key losses.
Coaching Change: Rick Neuheisel was fired on November 28, 2011, after a 6–7 regular season; Jim Mora was hired as his replacement on December 10.
Player Development: True freshman quarterback Brett Hundley saw action in the final game, foreshadowing his role as the program’s cornerstone in 2012 and beyond.

Comparison at a Glance

The 2011 season can be better understood by comparing it to the previous and following UCLA football seasons to evaluate trends in performance, coaching impact, and bowl outcomes.

Season	Record (Overall)	Conference Record	Bowl Game	Head Coach
2010	8–5	5–4	Lost Holiday Bowl to Illinois	Rick Neuheisel
2011	6–8	5–4	Lost Holiday Bowl to Baylor	Rick Neuheisel
2012	9–5	6–3	Won Pac-12 South; Lost to Nebraska in Holiday Bowl	Jim Mora
2009	7–6	4–5	Won EagleBank Bowl	Rick Neuheisel
2013	10–3	6–3	Won Sun Bowl; Finished ranked #17	Jim Mora

This comparison shows a transitional phase for UCLA football. The 2011 season marked the end of the Neuheisel era and a low point before Jim Mora revitalized the program. Despite similar conference records, the team’s overall performance declined from 2010, and the back-to-back Holiday Bowl losses highlighted systemic issues. The subsequent improvement in 2012 and 2013 demonstrated the impact of new leadership and player development.

Why It Matters

The 2011 season was a pivotal moment in UCLA football history, serving as a turning point that led to significant changes in coaching and team direction. Though not successful on the field, it set the stage for future competitiveness.

Coaching Transition: Neuheisel’s firing cleared the way for Jim Mora, who brought NFL experience and a renewed culture to the program.
Player Development: The season gave playing time to young talent like Brett Hundley, who became a multi-year starter and NFL prospect.
Recruiting Momentum: Despite the losing record, UCLA maintained strong recruiting classes, setting up future success under Mora.
Bowl Eligibility: The team’s 6–6 regular season record ensured bowl eligibility, preserving postseason experience for younger players.
Program Identity: The struggles highlighted the need for a more disciplined, pro-style approach, which Mora implemented in 2012.
Historical Context: The 2011 season is remembered as a bridge between mediocrity and resurgence, marking the end of stagnation.

Ultimately, the 2011 UCLA Bruins season, while underwhelming, played a crucial role in reshaping the football program. Its challenges led directly to structural and leadership changes that laid the foundation for more successful years ahead.