I don't see why people are worrying about UCLA. This is the program that petitioned the NCAA to go to a bowl game with a losing record before they even played Oregon in the PAC 12 Championship game last year. Talk about a show of confidence in your team...
UCLA is weak right now. They might have some talent, but they're weak overall.
UCLA is also not going to be the letdown game of 2012. It's our first road game, in Pasadena, it's our first game against a big name so it's a "prove that we're for real" game, like Washington in 2010, and it's our second game overall, which means that our players will be focused after making all of their first week mistakes against Southern Miss. I know that Fresno State was our second game last year, but I don't view that game as a letdown - I view that game as the moment our mediocre 2011 defense got exposed.
If you want to worry about a letdown game, it's the week after UCLA. Arkansas State = poor name recognition, Sun Belt conference, and if we just came off a big road win against the defending PAC 12 south champs, people will be feeling good about where the team is. And then a team that finished in the top 25 last year and now has Gus Malzahn as their head coach comes to Lincoln, where Pelini's players have generally been less focused in non-conference games than when they're on the road.
I think if we trip up in the non-conference schedule next year, it's going to be Arkansas State.