UCLA picked to finish fourth in Pac-12 South in preseason media poll

The Bruins have at least one supporter in the Pac-12 media ranks, but there is not much belief as a whole.

The conference's annual media poll was released Tuesday morning prior to Pac-12 Media Day, with UCLA football earning one vote to win the South division. No media member picked the Bruins to emerge as 2021 Pac-12 champions, however, a preseason honor they haven’t received since 1998.

UCLA’s 135 points in the media poll placed them eighth in the conference overall, just behind California and Stanford’s 140 and 137 points, respectively. Oregon took home 38 votes to win the North and 27 to win the conference outright, while USC earned 27 divisional votes and 10 conference championship votes.

The all-conference teams were similarly low of the Bruins, considering just one player made the First Team and one more made the Second Team.

Receiver Kyle Philips was the lone Bruin to make the Preseason All-Pac-12 First Team Offense after racking up 1,051 yards and seven touchdowns on 98 receptions in 19 games over the past two seasons.

Tight end Greg Dulcich rode a career 2020 into a spot on this year’s Preseason All-Pac-12 Second Team Offense, again finishing behind Washington’s Cade Otton, as was the case in last season’s postseason awards circuit.

No UCLA players were named to either defensive team. Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, running back Brittain Brown, right tackle Alec Anderson, center Sam Marrazzo, defensive lineman Otito Ogbonnia, linebacker Caleb Johnson, safety Qwuantrezz Knight, safety Stephan Blaylock and kicker Nicholas Barr-Mira were honorable mentions.

The full media poll and preseason All-Pac-12 results are as follows:

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