National Championship

1954 National Champions

The 1954 Bruins, coached by legendary head Henry R. "Red" Sanders, compiled a perfect 9-0 record and were voted National Champions by the United Press International. The team produced five shutouts along the way versus San Diego Navy (67-0), Stanford (72-0), Oregon State (61-0), Oregon (41-0), and the little boys of Troy (34-0). Their victims also included the defending National champions, Maryland (12-7). The victory margin over Stanford still stands as a school record.

UCLA didn't not play in the Rose Bowl because of the quirky "no-repeat" rule and eventually had to share the national championship with Ohio State (AP).

The team was led by 1st team All-Americans T Jack Ellena, G Jim Salsbury, and F Bob Davenport. Other All-American honors went to H Primo Villanueva, G Sam Boghosian, G Hardiman Cureton, C John Peterson, P Bob Heydenfeldt, H Jim Decker, T Joe Ray, Q Terry Debay, and E Rommie Loudd.

Three of the assistant coaches from this 1954 National Championship season went on to serve as head coaches for the Bruins: George Dickerson, Bill Barnes, and Tommy Prothro.