Jalen Berger News, Rumors, Updates - UCLA Bruins

UCLA's new era under Bob Chesney offers a roster makeover and a jolt of hope in Westwood

UCLA's football program is buzzing with excitement under new coach Bob Chesney

AUGUST 17 • Associated Press

Available vs. Buckeyes Berger (undisclosed) is available against Ohio State on Saturday night.

Impact Berger was question mark all week as he reportedly missed some practice, but the tailback will be good to go in a showdown with Ohio State. Berger has been limited to five carries in each of his last two games, but he's run for 268 total yards and two scores this season.

NOVEMBER 15, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting out Tuesday practice Berger (undisclosed) is in sweats and isn't partaking in UCLA's practice Tuesday, per 247Sports.com.

Impact Berger managed to score last week against Nebraska, but only logged five carries for 19 yards. It's unclear what the nature of his injury is, but the tailback appears to be a question mark ahead of Week 12 for a daunting showdown with Ohio State. If he sits out, expect more carries for Jaivian Thomas and Anthony Woods.

NOVEMBER 11, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Finds end zone in narrow loss Berger had five rushes for 19 yards and one touchdown and caught all two targets for 19 yards during Saturday's 28-21 defeat to Nebraska.

Impact Predicting UCLA's top rusher is a risky weekly proposition, and it was Berger's turn to show up this time around. The run game was supposed to be dominated by Jaivian Thomas, but things obviously haven't gone according to plan for the Bruins. The role will likely remain volatile for the remainder of the season.

NOVEMBER 11, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Lateef's impressive debut as a starter and Johnson's rushing lead Nebraska over UCLA 28-21

Nebraska beat UCLA 28-21 in the first collegiate start for true freshman TJ Lateef

NOVEMBER 9, 2025 • Associated Press

Logs solid game in backfield Berger compiled 12 carries for 89 yards and one touchdown and caught all three targets for 24 yards and two touchdowns during Saturday's 38-13 victory versus Michigan State.

Impact Berger had 112 yards of total offense in the win, and has overtaken Javian Thomas as the top choice in the backfield. Despite UCLA's resurgence, continued production from Berger isn't guaranteed. Thomas and Anthony Woods will still see their share of carries, but Berger's work as a receiving target could give him a slight fantasy edge over his teammates.

OCTOBER 14, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

UCLA Bruins vs. Michigan State Spartans Highlights | FOX College Football

OCTOBER 11, 2025 • FOX SPORTS

Berger scores 3 touchdowns in UCLA's 38-13 win over Michigan State

Jalen Berger scored three touchdowns and Nico Iamaleava threw for 180 yards and three touchdowns to lead UCLA to a 38-13 victory over Michigan State

OCTOBER 11, 2025 • Associated Press

Jalen Berger runs for 16-yard TD to give UCLA the lead over Michigan State

OCTOBER 11, 2025 • FOX SPORTS

Sees plenty of reps in spring game Berger saw a hefty workload in UCLA's spring game, per 247Sports.com.

Impact This indicates that the former Wisconsin and Michigan State tailback is healthy after missing the Bruins' last three games in 2024. Last season in Westwood, Berger ran for 178 yards on 48 carries as a rotational back. Expect a similar role this fall.

MAY 5, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

DNP for season finale Berger (undisclosed) did not play during UCLA's 20-13 win Saturday against Fresno State.

Impact Unfortunately for Berger, he sat out UCLA's last three games of the team's 2024 season. He will finish his with 48 carries for 178 yards. Despite logging fewer yards out wide, 59 with 10 receptions, Berger recorded multiple touchdowns as a receiver. While not his 2022 career season with Michigan State, 2024 was an improvement from 2023.

DECEMBER 3, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Listed as questionable Berger (undisclosed) is questionable for UCLA's clash with Fresno State.

Impact Berger is in danger of missing his third straight game. If the tailback can't go, expect Keegan Jones and Anthony Adkins to see more carries against the Bulldogs.

NOVEMBER 30, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

DNP for USC game Berger (undisclosed) did not play during Saturday's 19-13 defeat versus USC.

Impact Berger could not help a struggling UCLA team get good offense going against USC. He will look to help the Bruins bounce back in a non-conference game against Fresno State on Nov. 30.

NOVEMBER 25, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Questionable for USC game Berger (undisclosed) is questionable for UCLA's game Saturday against USC.

Impact Berger being available against USC will depend on a little more time, with his availability going down to the wire. He has logged somewhere between six to 10 carries in each of his last five games and will look to continue getting that amount of rushing opportunities while available.

NOVEMBER 23, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Practicing for Bruins Berger (undisclosed) is practicing for UCLA ahead of its game against USC, per 247Sports.com.

Impact Berger didn't play against Washington in Week 12 after logging a handful of carries in each of the Bruins' games prior, minus the opener. The tailback has 48 carries for 178 yards this fall, and has been a rotational ball-carrier in Westwood. He appears as if he has a chance to get back on the field in the crosstown rivalry game this weekend.

NOVEMBER 20, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Doesn't play in Week 12 Berger (undisclosed) didn't play in Friday's 31-19 loss to Washington.

Impact Berger was deemed questionable in the injury report, but he didn't suit up for the contest. His next chance to play will come against USC on Nov. 23 in a Week 13 matchup.

NOVEMBER 15, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Questionable to face Washington Berger (undisclosed) is questionable for Friday's game at Washington.

Impact The availability of Berger will be revealed closer to the 9 p.m. ET kickoff, but even if he's made available, he's not expected to be anything more than a backup option in the backfield. Berger has 48 carries for 178 yards this season, but he's also added 10 catches for 59 yards and two scores through the air.

NOVEMBER 15, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Catches another TD in Week 10 Berger posted seven rushes for 21 yards and gathered in 2 of 3 targets for 11 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 27-20 victory against Nebraska.

Impact Berger scored his second touchdown of the season and his second in as many games when he caught a play-action screen pass for a 10-yard touchdown. The Michigan State transfer has gotten more involved in the rushing game with 34 carries across the last four games. But, he's still averaged just 3.1 yards per carry over this span. While he and T.J. Harde have split carries more as of late, Berger's relatively modest workload likely won't net him nearly as many touchdowns per game over the last four games of the season.

NOVEMBER 3, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Ethan Garbers finds Jalen Berger for a 10-yard touchdown to extend UCLA's lead to 10-0 over Nebraska

NOVEMBER 2, 2024 • FOX SPORTS

Logs receiving TD in win Berger notched 10 carries for 28 yards and caught their only target for nine yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 35-32 win over Rutgers.

Impact Berger recorded the first receiving touchdown of his career with a nine-yard catch early in the fourth quarter. He also tallied a team-high in rushing attempts ahead of T.J. Harden (seven), as the latter has started to see fewer carries over the last three games. Neither running back is getting much of a workload this season, and the Bruins' rushing game was still extremely inefficient despite this explosive outing for the offense overall. Given his limited value as a receiver overall, it's unlikely that Berger will be worth much attention from fantasy owners moving forward.

OCTOBER 20, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Transferring to UCLA Berger is transferring to UCLA from Michigan State for the 2024 season, Pete Nakos of On3.com reports.

Impact Berger will join his third collegiate program after logging the past two seasons with Michigan State and his first two with Wisconsin. The 6-foot-1 running back is a bit late in the game to transfer, but he should still have ample time to acquaint with his new team ahead of training camp starting in August. The former four-star recruit logged 776 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns across his two seasons with the Spartans, and he has 1,165 career rushing yards

JULY 22, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Georgia Tech Reportedly Contacts Michigan State Transfer Running Back Jalen Berger There have been reports about Georgia Tech being interested in adding a running back through the transfer portal, but most of their addition...

MAY 6, 2024 • SI.COM

Officially done for the year Berger (undisclosed) will miss the remainder of the season with an injury.

Impact While the specifics of Berger's injury haven't been disclosed, the junior running back had just one carry against Michigan in Week 8 before departing the contest. Berger will finish the year with 93 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries across five games. Nathan Carter should shoulder most of the workload in Michigan State's backfield, with Jaren Mangham potentially seeing an expanded role.

OCTOBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Michigan State RB Jalen Berger 'probably' done for the season with injury Berger played 2 snaps last weekend vs. Michigan before exiting

OCTOBER 24, 2023 • 247SPORTS.COM

Likely out for remainder of season Michigan State coach Harlon Barnett indicated Monday that Berger is likely to miss the remainder of the 2023 season due to injury, Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Impact No further details regarding the injury have been revealed but it seems the Spartans will be without Berger for an extended period of time. The redshirt junior running back has appeared in five games this year, compiling 25 carries for 93 yards and one touchdown to along with five receptions for 40 yards.

OCTOBER 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

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