Who will be UCLA’s starting quarterback in 2025? Five questions facing the Bruins

Once UCLA lost to USC, erasing the possibility of a winning season and a bowl game, the most important date on the Bruins’ calendar shifted to Dec. 9. The redshirt sophomore who has moved his way up from fourth string will be the Bruins’ next starting quarterback unless the team snags a veteran in the transfer portal. “I know for a fact we’ve raised more money than we had previously, so I’m just excited for this and as long as it keeps going in the right direction, I think a lot of the alumni and donors see how the program, see how these guys play and they want to be involved in it, they want to invest, so I’m just glad that we have the type of people that they want to help us be great.” UCLA’s 18-member high school recruiting class, which includes a pair of four-star prospects in edge rusher Epi Sitanilei and quarterback Madden Iamaleava, is ranked No. Not wanting to lose their defensive coordinator for the second time in as many years after D’Anton Lynn moved across town a year ago, the Bruins might need to pull out their checkbook and write the following: “Pay to the order of Ikaika Malloe, $1 million.” Doubling Malloe’s salary after he salvaged what might have otherwise been a mediocre defense could be the only way to keep him. Bieniemy’s pro-style scheme is known to be wordy and complex, meaning there might be a prolonged learning period if the Bruins decide to go with a transfer quarterback as their starter next season.