1975 UCLA Bruins football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1975 UCLA Bruins football Pacific-8 Conference Pac-8 5 5 9–2–1 6–1 Dick Vermeil 2nd Rod Dowhower 2nd Lynn Stiles 2nd Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Pac-8 co-championRose Bowl champion Rose Bowl W 23–10 vs. Ohio State The 1975 UCLA Bruins football team represented the University of California, Los Angeles in the 1975 NCAA Division I football season. Led by second-year head coach Dick Vermeil, the Bruins won their first Pacific-8 championship in a decade and were 8–2–1 in the regular season. On New Year's Day, UCLA upset previously undefeated and top-ranked Ohio State in the Rose Bowl and climbed to fifth in the final rankings.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fr4RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dO0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7125%2C444489 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Associated Press Dynamite Bruins stagger Ohio St. January 2, 1976 34https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1CBOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dO0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7216%2C622552 Spokane, Washington Associated Press Sooners poll champions January 3, 1976 13 Coming off an injury-plagued 1974 season at 6–3–2, UCLA began the season ranked No. 16. A season-opening 37–21 win over Iowa State in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum saw them move up to twelfth;https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rtVVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MuADAAAAIBAJ&pg=4161%2C3326266 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press Sciarra scores three as UCLA tops Cyclones September 14, 1975 3C this was followed by a 34–28 win over No. 10 Tennessee.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tNVVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MuADAAAAIBAJ&pg=5407%2C4987110 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press Bruins stall late bid, upend 10th-rated Vols September 21, 1975 But they stumbled in a turnover-plagued 20–20 tie at Air Force;https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=utVVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MuADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6594%2C6991229 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press Long field goal ties UCLA at 20 September 28, 1975 6B second-ranked Ohio State traveled west and handed UCLA its first loss of the season, 41–20 on October 4.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GdZVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JuADAAAAIBAJ&pg=3546%2C1005796 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press Greene races by Bruins October 5, 1975 3B After the game, head coach Woody Hayes prophetically told his team that they would be facing UCLA again in the Rose Bowl. UCLA was the only opponent to score more than 14 points in a game all season against Ohio State, and they did it twice. The Ohio State loss dropped the Bruins out of the top 20, but they returned to No. 13 after wins over Stanford,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=H9ZVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JuADAAAAIBAJ&pg=4620%2C3263719 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press Stanford fans boo as UCLA prevails October 12, 1975 6D Washington State,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yPJLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ce0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6441%2C2041914 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Missildine Harry Sciarra, Ayers lead UCLA win October 19, 1975 D1https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JdZVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JuADAAAAIBAJ&pg=5540%2C5595011 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press Bruin offense just too much October 19, 1975 3B and a key win over California. But another loss, this time to Washington 17–13, dropped them back out of the top 20 and resulted in a five-way tie at the top of the Pac-8 between UCLA, California, Stanford, USC, and Washington.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_HkzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LeADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6452%2C303455 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press Suddenly, five Pac-8 teams sniffing roses November 2, 1975 3B After a pair of wins over the Oregon schools,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AnozAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LeADAAAAIBAJ&pg=4016%2C2316525 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Withers Bud The athletes have their say, 50-17 November 9, 1975 1Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=B3ozAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LeADAAAAIBAJ&pg=2334%2C4378214 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Rausch Gary Dee's day starts badly, gets no better November 16, 1975 1B the Bruins went into their season-ending game against rival USC needing a win to go to the Rose Bowl; a loss or tie would send California to Pasadena. Despite fumbling 11 times and losing 8, UCLA beat the Trojans 25–22.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EnozAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LeADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6694%2C8256441 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon wire reports Fumbling Bruins Pasadena-bound November 29, 1975 1B UCLA ended up tied with California for the Pac-8 championship, but advanced to the Rose Bowl on the strength of their 28–14 win over the Golden Bears.Jeff Prugh – UCLA DROPS BALL BUT HOLDS ROSES; USC Loses in McKay's Farewell. Los Angeles Times. November 29, 1975 The Bruins went into the Rose Bowl ranked No. 11. The 1975 USC–UCLA game was coach John McKay and Vermeil's final game at the Coliseum. It was the only bowl appearance for Vermeil in his two seasons at UCLA; a month later he left for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ymIsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Os0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3386%2C1428982 Spartanburg Herald-Journal South Carolina Associated Press Eagles hire Vermeil February 9, 1976 B1 Schedule 1975 AP Pacific September 13 8:05 pm w y 16 Iowa State Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 37–21 31,260 September 20 12:50 pm w y 12 Tennessee 10 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA ABC 34–28 33,356 September 27 2:30 pm t y y 10 Air Force Falcon Stadium Colorado Springs, CO 20–20 33,390 October 4 6:00 pm l y 13 Ohio State 2 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA ABC 20–41 55,482 October 11 1:30 pm w y Stanford Stanford Stadium Stanford, CA 31–21 52,500 October 18 1:30 pm w y 18 Washington State Joe Albi Stadium Spokane, WA 37–23 28,500 October 25 3:00 pm w 19 California Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 28–14 36,100 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-breeze-bruins-really-wanted-th/181135503/ The Daily Breeze Bruins really wanted this victory October 26, 1975 September 15, 2025 Newspapers.com November 1 1:30 pm l 13 Washington Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 13–17 29,158 November 8 1:30 pm w y Oregon Autzen Stadium Eugene, OR 50–17 15,500 November 15 1:30 pm w 19 Oregon State Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 31–9 30,203 November 28, 1975 5:00 pm w y 14 USC Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA Victory Bell ABC 25–22 80,927 January 1, 1976, 1976 2:00 pm w y y 11 Ohio State 1 Rose Bowl Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA NBC 23–10 105,464 Game summaries Ohio State UCLA 7 0 7 6 Ohio State 7 21 10 3 1975 Ohio State Buckeyes football team 1st quarter scoring: UCLA – James Sarpy 13-yard pass from John Sciarra (Brett White kick); OSU – Greene 2-yard run (Klaban kick) 2nd quarter scoring: OSU – Johnson 3-yard run (Klaban kick); OSU – Johnson 2-yard run (Klaban kick); OSU – Greene 17-yard run (Klaban kick) 3rd quarter scoring: OSU – A. Griffin 17-yard run (Klaban kick); OSU – Klaban 34-yard field goal; UCLA – Eddie Ayers 2-yard run (White kick) 4th quarter scoring: UCLA – Ayers 1-yard run (kick failed); OSU – Klaban 42-yard field goal Ohio State (Rose Bowl) UCLA 0 0 16 7 Ohio State 3 0 0 7 1976 Rose Bowl 1st quarter scoring: Ohio State – Tom Klaban 42-yard field goal 2nd quarter scoring: No score 3rd quarter scoring: UCLA – Brett White 33-yard field goal; UCLA – Wally Henry 16-yard pass from John Sciarra (White kick failed); UCLA – Henry 67-yard pass from Sciarra (White kick) 4th quarter scoring: Ohio State – Pete Johnson 3-yard run (Klaban kick); UCLA – Wendell Tyler 54-yard run (White kick) Personnel Roster 1975 UCLA Bruins f 73 Sr Phil McKinnely T y So Severn Reece WR 15 Sr John Sciarra QB y 56 Sr Terry Tautolo LB y 40 Fr Manu Tuiasosopo LB y *Dick Vermeil 34 returning lettermen from Coach Dick Vermeil's first team that was 6–3–2 in 1974.UCLA 1975 Press Guide, Compiled by UCLA Athletic News Bureau, Vic Kelley, Manager Offense 89 Norm Andersen, SE 70 Gus Coppens LT 73 Phil McKinnely, LG 62 Mitch Kahn, C 51 Randy Cross, RG 75 Jack DeMartinis, RT 7 Rick Walker, TE 15 John Sciarra QB 22 Wendell Tyler, LHB 30 Eddie Ayers, RHB 8 Wally Henry, FL Defense 42 Jeff Smith, S 68 Tim Tennigkeit, LT 56 Terry Tautolo, ILB 59 Pete Pele, NG Kelly Stroich, ILB 90 Bob Crawford, RT 83 Dale Curry, OLB 87 Raymond Burks, OLB 29 Barney Person, LCB 21 Oscar Edwards, RCB Matt Fahl, S 88 Pat Schmidt, S 82 John Terando DB Specialists 34 Brett White, PK 6 John Sullivan, P Coaches Dick Vermeil, head coach Lynn Stiles, assistant head coach/defensive coordinator Jim Criner, linebackers/tight ends Terry Donahue, offensive line Rod Dowhower, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks/wide receivers Jerry Long, offensive line/defensive line Billie Matthews, running backs Bill McPherson, defensive line Carl Peterson, wide receivers/tight ends Dick Tomey, defensive backs Mike Flores, graduate assistant Awards and honors John Sciarra, QB, All-Conference, NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship, ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All America, National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Scholarship, NCAA Top Eight Award, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame (2014) Randy Cross, G, All-Conference, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame (2010) Fulton Kuykendall, LB, All-Conference Head coach Dick Vermeil will be inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2014.Knute Rockne, Dick Vermeil and Ki-Jana Carter to be Inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame https://web.archive.org/web/20140827104143/http://www.tournamentofroses.com/News/NewsDetail/tabid/132/article/201856/KNUTE-ROCKNE-DICK-VERMEIL-AND-KI-JANA-CARTER-TO-BE-INDUCTED-INTO-THE-ROSE-BOWL-HALL-OF-FAME.aspx 2014-08-27 , Tournament of Roses Association, August 26, 2014 Barney Person, CB, Lead nation & UCLA in interceptions, made key Rose Bowl interception 1975 team players in the NFL The following players were claimed in the 1975 NFL draft. 2 UCLA Bruins Player Position Round Pick NFL club Fulton Kuykendall Linebacker 6 132 Atlanta Falcons Eugene Clark Offensive guard 9 222 Pittsburgh Steelers Art Kuehn Center 15 384 Washington Redskins Myke Horton Offensive tackle 17 428 New England Patriots The following players were claimed in the 1976 NFL draft. 2 UCLA Bruins Player Position Round Pick NFL club Cliff Frazier Defensive tackle 2 41 Kansas City Chiefs Randy Cross Center 2 42 San Francisco 49ers John Sciarra Defensive back 4 103 Chicago Bears Phil McKinnely Tackle 9 246 Atlanta Falcons Norman Andersen Wide receiver 11 299 Chicago Bears Terry Tautolo Linebacker 13 353 Philadelphia Eagles Brett White Punter 15 412 Philadelphia Eagles Dale Curry Linebacker 15 430 Dallas Cowboys https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1976.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20071221231848/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1976.htm 2007-12-21 1976 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com Pro-Football-Reference.com The following player was claimed in the 1977 NFL draft. 2 UCLA Bruins Player Position Round Pick NFL club Wendell Tyler Running back 3 79 Los Angeles Rams Rick Walker Tight end 4 85 Cincinnati Bengals Ray Burks Linebacker 12 318 Kansas City Chiefs References 2 External links Sports Reference - 1975 UCLA football season UCLA Category:UCLA Bruins football seasons Category:Pac-12 Conference football champion seasons Category:Rose Bowl champion seasons UCLA Bruins footbal UCLA Bruins football