UCLA is 8-0. The College Football Playoff committee still has seven teams ahead of the Bruins.
The first CFP rankings released Tuesday placed UCLA at No. 8, three spots below its No. 5 ranking in the AP poll. Alabama landed at No. 5 and Texas at No. 7, both with 6-2 records.
That's a tough sell for an unbeaten team. The committee weighs strength of schedule along with results, but it's fair to question how much credit UCLA is getting for what it has done through eight games.
Before the rankings were announced, linebacker and team captain Sammy Omosigho joined Brock & Alex on 97.1 The Fan LA and shared Bob Chesney's message about the number next to a team's name. He said his coach calls it “the most useless stat.”
“Our goal is to focus on what we can control, focus on the opponent,” Omosigho said.
UCLA has backed that talk up on defense. The Bruins are allowing 13.4 points per game and have forced 26 turnovers, ranking in the top 10 nationally in both categories. Omosigho has been at the center of it, leading the country with five forced fumbles.
Omosigho credits defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler with setting a standard that applies to everyone on the depth chart.
“The only way you can change the standard is by going up,” Omosigho said. “And he doesn't allow us to go down at all.”
That gives UCLA something to lean on as the games get bigger. A defense that can get stops and take the ball away travels, especially with two road games still on the schedule.
No. 8 matches UCLA's highest CFP ranking and would currently put the Bruins in position to host a first-round playoff game. There's plenty at stake over the final four regular-season games, even if Tuesday's placement feels low.
The next test comes Saturday at Minnesota, with kickoff set for 9 a.m. PT on FOX. Then it's Illinois at home, a trip to Michigan and the rivalry game against USC at the Rose Bowl. UCLA has four more chances to strengthen its case before the final bracket is set Dec. 6.
Omosigho was clear about what the team believes it can accomplish. Asked whether this group has what it takes to win a national championship, his answer was simple.
“Oh, absolutely. That's the goal.”
He immediately brought the conversation back to Minnesota. The belief is there, and so is the understanding that UCLA has to keep winning to give itself that opportunity.
For Omosigho, winning has already changed the atmosphere around the program in Chesney's first season.
“Winning cures everything,” he said. “So when we continue to win, it's a virus, and we want to keep on spreading.”
Watch Sammy Omosigho's full interview with Brock & Alex on 97.1 The Fan LA's YouTube channel.
