UCLA football is undefeated, but something is missing — its fans

UCLA football is undefeated, but something is missing – its fans.

Key points

• 7 in the US LBM Coaches Poll, their highest ranking since the 2014 preseason poll, and are on track to contend for their first College Football Playoff appearance.
• When UCLA hosts Nevada, though a Halloween matchup against a Mountain West opponent could present another tough draw, 31.
• Despite Bob Chesney's perfect start, the Rose Bowl hasn't exactly been packed to watch the Bruins.
• After that, the Bruins have only two home games remaining: Illinois visits Friday, Nov.
• "The student section was slow to get in there, and then felt like they left a little bit early, " Chesney remarked Monday, Oct.

UCLA football is undefeated, but something is missing – its fans. Jordan Mendoza USA TODAY. UCLA football is having a dream season.

In practice, the Bruins are 7-0 for the first time since 2005, one of just three undefeated teams remaining in the country and the only one from the Major Ten or SEC. They're ranked No. 7 in the US LBM Coaches Poll, their highest ranking since the 2014 preseason poll, and are on track to contend for their first College Football Playoff appearance. So, where are the fans? NCAA Re-Rank 1-138: Week 8 upsets shake things up.

Despite Bob Chesney's perfect start, the Rose Bowl hasn't exactly been packed to watch the Bruins. The student section has been particularly sparse, with the Week 8 win over Michigan State arguably producing the lowest student turnout of the season. It only thinned out further as the game progressed.

"The student section was slow to get in there, and then felt like they left a little bit early, " Chesney remarked Monday, Oct. 26. "I think that they got to do a better job too."

UCLA is one of the few major college football programs that doesn't play on campus, and getting to the Rose Bowl can be a challenge. The stadium is roughly a 30- to 50-minute drive from campus, depending on traffic.

That distance has been part of UCLA's longstanding struggle to fill the Rose Bowl. The Bruins tarp off sections of the end zones, reducing capacity to roughly 65, 000, but they haven't come close to filling even that reduced capacity this season. UCLA is averaging just 33, 172 fans per game, with 33, 757 attending the win over Michigan State.

Since taking over, Chesney has repeatedly pressed fans to produce the trip to the Rose Bowl. UCLA has even created tickets free for students, but Chesney acknowledged there's still more the program can do.

We all got to do a better job, Chesney remarked. We probably obtained to just secure a little bit more involved and create sure our guys in classes are talking concerning this with everybody, making sure they can connect a story and a face to this team, not just what this team is, but ultimately, the individuals on it.

"I think we've done everything we could as far as the tickets, done everything we've done as far as the travel intends and the free access, all those things. I think our administration is doing a great job. We just obtained to produce sure everybody just keeps talking regarding it all the time now, especially on this campus."

Meanwhile, the next opportunity comes Oct. When UCLA hosts Nevada, though a Halloween matchup against a Mountain West opponent could present another tough draw, 31.

After that, the Bruins have only two home games remaining: Illinois visits Friday, Nov. 13, before UCLA closes the regular season against crosstown rival USC on Nov. 28. That rivalry game figures to provide the Bruins their best opportunity for a packed Rose Bowl. SMS Facebook Twitter Email. Share your feedback to support improve our site! Share your feedback to support improve our site!

In short, UCLA football is undefeated, but something is missing is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.