UCLA Football: Ranking Bruins’ 2020 opponents by toughness

San Diego State was one of the best teams from the Mountain West a year ago, winning 10 games and its three losses were by a combined 13 points.

Brady Hoke, who’s in his second stint as head coach, takes over and he must find a new quarterback and running back. The defense does return seven starters to one of the best units nationally a season ago as it finished No. 5 in total yards allowed per game. San Diego State also had the second-best scoring defense.

The Aztecs could be just as good in 2020, but a slight step back wouldn’t be much of a surprise.

The Kevin Sumlin era hasn’t lived up to the hype in Tucson as evidenced by his 9-15 record through two years. He’s losing Khalil Tate and J.J. Taylor, so the Pac-12’s third-best offense will take a hit. Will Grant Gunnell take over and prove to be a viable starting quarterback?

Starting the month of October with a home game against a fringe-bowl team with one of the worst defenses in the conference could be a nice confidence-booster for UCLA.