What Is 2014 UCLA Bruins football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2014 UCLA Bruins football team represented the University of California, Los Angeles during the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season, finishing with an 8–5 overall record and a 5–4 mark in Pac-12 Conference play under head coach Jim Mora. They played their home games at the Rose Bowl Stadium and participated in the Foster Farms Bowl, defeating the Virginia Tech Hokies 42–12.

Key Facts

The 2014 UCLA Bruins finished the season with an 8–5 overall record
They went 5–4 in Pac-12 Conference play, placing third in the South Division
Head coach Jim Mora led the team in his third season at UCLA
UCLA defeated Virginia Tech 42–12 in the 2014 Foster Farms Bowl
Quarterback Brett Hundley started 10 games before leaving for the NFL Draft

Overview

The 2014 UCLA Bruins football team represented the University of California, Los Angeles in the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Competing in the Pac-12 Conference, the team was led by head coach Jim Mora in his third year at the helm and played its home games at the historic Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California.

The Bruins finished the regular season with an 8–5 overall record and a 5–4 conference record, placing third in the Pac-12 South Division. Despite not winning the division, UCLA earned a bowl berth and capped its season with a decisive 42–12 victory over Virginia Tech in the Foster Farms Bowl, showcasing strong offensive execution.

Record: The team finished the season with an 8–5 overall record, including a 5–4 mark in Pac-12 play, reflecting moderate success in a competitive conference.
Head coach: Jim Mora entered his third season as head coach, continuing to build a disciplined, defense-first program while developing NFL-caliber talent.
Stadium: UCLA played all home games at the Rose Bowl Stadium, a 91,136-capacity venue that has hosted five Super Bowls and numerous college football classics.
Bowl game: The Bruins participated in the Foster Farms Bowl on December 27, 2014, defeating the Virginia Tech Hokies 42–12 in a dominant second-half performance.
Quarterback: Brett Hundley started 10 games before sitting out the bowl game to prepare for the NFL Draft, finishing with 2,875 passing yards and 22 total touchdowns.

Season Performance

The 2014 season featured a mix of high-scoring wins and close losses, highlighting both offensive firepower and defensive inconsistencies. The team's performance reflected a transitional phase as key players prepared for professional careers.

Early season: UCLA opened the season ranked No. 15 nationally and started 4–0, including a 34–16 win over No. 23 Virginia in Week 2.
Key loss: A 34–27 double-overtime defeat to Arizona on October 25 significantly hurt their Pac-12 South title hopes and dropped them to 5–2.
Defensive stats: The Bruins allowed 26.5 points per game, with linebacker Myles Jack recording 77 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss.
Offensive output: UCLA averaged 34.2 points per game, led by running back Paul Perkins, who rushed for 1,045 yards and 8 touchdowns.
Injuries: Key absences, including linebacker Eric Kendricks missing time due to injury, disrupted defensive continuity during critical conference matchups.
Special teams: Placekicker Ka’imi Fairbairn converted 18 of 21 field goal attempts, including a long of 52 yards, providing reliable scoring.

Comparison at a Glance

Here's how the 2014 UCLA Bruins compared to key rivals and the previous season:

Team	2014 Record	Pac-12 Finish	Bowl Result	Head Coach
UCLA	8–5	3rd, South	W, 42–12 vs. Virginia Tech	Jim Mora
USC	9–4	2nd, South	L, 45–42 (2OT) vs. Nebraska	Steve Sarkisian
Arizona	10–4	1st, South	W, 38–31 vs. Boise State	Rich Rodriguez
Oregon	13–2	1st, North	L, 59–20 vs. Florida State (Cotton Bowl)	Mark Helfrich
UCLA 2013	10–3	2nd, South	W, 42–12 vs. Virginia Tech	Jim Mora

The 2014 season showed a slight decline from UCLA’s 10–3 record in 2013, primarily due to increased turnover and a tougher schedule. While they matched their 2013 bowl win score against Virginia Tech, the team struggled to maintain consistency in conference play, particularly in close games. The Pac-12 South remained highly competitive, with Arizona emerging as division champions. Despite not reaching the Pac-12 Championship Game, UCLA’s bowl victory preserved a winning season and provided momentum for future recruiting.

Why It Matters

The 2014 season was pivotal for UCLA’s football program as it marked the final year of Brett Hundley’s college career and set the stage for future development under Jim Mora. The team’s performance influenced recruiting, draft preparation, and long-term program expectations.

NFL pipeline: Brett Hundley’s departure after the regular season highlighted UCLA’s growing reputation as a producer of professional quarterbacks.
Recruiting boost: A strong bowl win helped attract top-tier recruits, including future stars like Josh Rosen.
Defensive transition: The season marked the end of an era for the linebacker corps, with Myles Jack expected to declare for the 2015 NFL Draft.
Stadium legacy: Continued use of the Rose Bowl reinforced UCLA’s national profile and historic presence in college football.
Program trajectory: Though not a championship season, the 8–5 record maintained UCLA’s status as a consistent bowl team under Mora.
Coaching evaluation: The season provided data points for assessing Jim Mora’s mid-term success and future potential at UCLA.

The 2014 UCLA Bruins season, while not record-breaking, played an important role in sustaining program momentum and preparing for the transition to a new generation of talent. It underscored the challenges of maintaining success in a deep conference while celebrating a decisive bowl victory that energized the fanbase.