UCLA has one of the most explosive rushing attacks in the Big Ten

The UCLA Bruins' offense boasts one of the most explosive ground games in the Big Ten Conference. As they prepare for their first conference matchup against the Purdue Boilermakers, their impressive rushing stats demonstrate their dominance. Currently, the Bruins lead the conference in second place for rushing yards per game after just two games of the 2026 season.

Only the Nebraska Cornhuskers have managed to outpace them with a higher average. With 245.5 rushing yards per game, UCLA finds itself trailing only behind the USC Trojans, who have played one additional game, with 518 rushing yards. The Cornhuskers closely follow, amassing 512 rushing yards.

This formidable rushing attack has been instrumental in securing the Bruins' first two victories of the season. Their impressive performance has netted them a total of 10 touchdowns, all of which have been scored through their ground game. Notably, each of these touchdowns has been a direct result of the Bruins' powerful rushing efforts.

The success of this rushing attack can be attributed to a dynamic trio of senior running backs at the heart of the backfield. Led by Wayne Knight, who has already amassed six touchdowns with 168 rushing yards (averaging 8 yards per run on his 21 attempts), the trio of Anthony Woods (two touchdowns, 148 yards, and 9.3 yards per carry on 16 carries) and Jaivian Thomas (73 yards, one touchdown, and 6.1 yards per attempt on 12 carries) have been crucial contributors to the Bruins' explosive rushing success.

Additionally, senior quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who played a significant role last season, continues to bolster the team's ground game with 86 rushing yards on 22 carries and a touchdown, averaging 3.9 yards per attempt.