If UCLA didn't have to play in the brutal Pac-10, it might have ended up nationally ranked.

The Bruins started 3-0 in nonconference play, holding San Diego State, Tennessee and Kansas State to 38 points combined, but once the competition amped up in conference play the wheels came off.

Starting with a loss at Stanford, the Bruins dropped five in a row before rallying late in the season for three victories that earned them bowl eligibility.

The defense was mostly good. The offense, while better than last year, again was inconsistent. The hope is the bumps and bruises redshirt freshman quarterback Kevin Prince and a young offensive line took in 2009 will pay off in future seasons.

Offensive MVP -- K Kai Forbath

UCLA didn't have much offense this year, but Forbath, the consensus All-Pac-10 kicker, scored 100 points. He was 26-of-29 on field goals this year with a long of 53 yards. All of his misses came outside of 50 yards.

Defensive MVP -- FS Rahim Moore

Defensive tackle Brian Price was the Pac-10 defensive MVP, but Moore also deserves credit -- and All-American consideration -- after leading the nation with nine interceptions. He also had 45 tackles, three tackles for a loss and seven pass breakups.

Turning point -- UCLA was 3-0 and on the cusp of a national ranking when it went to Stanford on Oct. 3. Then Toby Gerhart sliced a diced -- and rolled over -- a defense that had dominated previous competition for 134 yards and three touchdowns in a 24-16 Bruins defeat, the first of five consecutive Pac-10 losses. It's one thing to win at Tennessee and beat Kansas State, but the Bruins weren't ready to step up to elite Pac-10 competition.

What's next -- It looks like coach Rick Neuheisel is going to haul in another highly rated recruiting class, but next year could be tough for the Bruins, starting with an absurd nonconference schedule -- at Kansas State, Houston and at Texas (message to AD Dan Guerrero: That's genius for a rebuilding program. Good job!). The offense only loses two starters, but most of the big names will be gone on defense -- it's a near certainty Price joins LB Reggie Carter, CB Alterraun Verner and the Bosworth brothers, LB Kyle and DE Korey, in the NFL draft. The Bruins could be much improved in 2010, but they may not dramatically upgrade the win-loss ledger.