UCLA’s Conor McDermott wants more than a 10-win season
UCLA offensive lineman Conor McDermott wants to play at end of the season in the Pac-12 Championship game and win a conference title.
The Bruins were picked to win the South division in a poll of 33 media members. Stanford was chosen to win the North and defeat UCLA in the championship game. Times reporters do not vote in polls.
“I try not to listen to that too much,” McDermott said Friday at media days. “We’ve been in a position where we’ve been number one, and we’ve been in a position where we’ve been number three and five. Both are motivations and some say it’s better to be the underdog, but either way, we have to play well.”
The Bruins were in position to play in the title game last season before losing to USC in a regular-season finale. They finished with an 8-5 record that included a 37-29 loss to Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl.
Offensive lineman Conor McDermott speaks with Lindsey Thiry at Pac-12 media days. McDermott returns to UCLA to play his fifth and final season.
UCLA has had two 10-win seasons in McDermott’s four years, but he chose to forgo entry into the NFL draft to return for a fifth season with hopes of the title game and a trip to the Rose Bowl or College Football Playoff.
“It’s every player’s dream to be able to do that,” he said.
UCLA opens training camp on Aug. 8 and is scheduled to play Texas A&M in a season opener on Sept. 3 in College Station, Texas.
Follow Lindsey Thiry on Facebook and Twitter @LindseyThiry
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