Social media reacts to Bill Plaschke's column on UCLA football

With the 2026 season inching closer and closer, Los Angeles Times’ columnist Bill Plaschke gave UCLA Bruin fans something to get their minds on college football with a piece expressing his belief in new head coach Bob Chesney.

Such a ringing endorsement from a longtime sportswriter caused social media to stir. UCLA hasn’t been a nationally relevant football team in quite some time, having not been ranked since 2023 when the Bruins topped out at No. 18 in the Associated Press poll.

In a reply on Twitter to Plaschke’s story, another longtime sports commentator, Bill Simmons, welcomed incoming fans onto the UCLA bandwagon.

“We aren’t positive we can accommodate absolutely everyone on the Chesney Bandwagon,” Simmons tweeted on Sunday. “But we’re gonna do our best for the latecomers, thanks for your patience.”

We aren’t positive we can accommodate absolutely everyone on the Chesney Bandwagon — but we’re gonna do our best for the latecomers, thanks for your patience https://t.co/5ylKKsqWvd

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) July 26, 2026

Simmons isn’t a UCLA alum but he has ties to Chesney. Simmons attended Holy Cross, a school that Chesney coached at during his journey to UCLA. Since Chesney has been hired at UCLA, Simmons has supported the new Bruins coach and even attended a dinner for donors alongside Chesney.

Is everyone sold on UCLA in 2026? No. Former NFL offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz tweeted on Sunday to pump the brakes on UCLA’s hype train.

“UCLA is becoming way too trendy heading into this season,” Schwartz tweeted. “I’ve enjoyed what they’ve done this offseason and I’m rooting for them to succeed. But everyone thinks they will be good this season.”

UCLA is becoming way too trendy heading into this season. I’ve enjoyed what they’ve done this offseason and I’m rooting for them to succeed. But everyone thinks they will be good this season https://t.co/tuBhhKREMZ

— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) July 27, 2026

It’s fair to question how much UCLA can climb up the Big Ten Conference standings in one offseason but we’ll see this season who’s correct about the Bruins.

This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Social media reacts to Bill Plaschke's column on UCLA football