4 things we learned in Week Zero of college football season

UCLA football looks like a Pac-12 contender

While there was only a handful of games this weekend, one of the teams that looked the most impressive was UCLA football.

Yes, it was Just Hawaii but UCLA didn’t mess around and new running back Zach Charbonnet, a Michigan transfer, looked every bit like the top-50 recruit he was back in the 2020 recruiting class. His addition was huge for the Bruins and under Chip Kelly, he could have a breakout season.

Add a running back with legitimate NFL talent and quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson who wasn’t great against Hawaii but is due for a huge season, and you have a recipe for success on offense.

Of course, this weekend will offer a much better litmus test for UCLA football as the Bruins will take on LSU in a fascinating cross-country matchup. LSU is trying to establish itself as a contender again following a disappointing season.

UCLA football could make a huge statement with an upset over LSU, which would also announce them as a viable contender in the Pac-12 this season.

Poor Uconn is just awful

This column will normally look at five things we learned but with just five games on the docket, we’ll stick to just a few. However, one thing that needs to be mentioned is UConn.

The Huskies didn’t play at all last season and they were destroyed by Fresno State 45-0. This program was hit extremely hard when all the realignment happened. Randy Edsall notched four straight winning seasons at one time before he left and even finished in the top 25 three times in four years.

Since then, UConn has had 11-straight losing seasons, which includes a few under Edsall now that he’s back and you have to wonder right now if there is any team in the country that’s worse?