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UCLA Football 2026 Schedule Breakdown, Season Outlook
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- UCLA Football 2026 Schedule Breakdown, Season Outlook
It might have been a step back to take a huge leap forward with Bob Chesney coming in from James Madison
to take over the sleeping giant of a program.
He and the Bruins have plenty to like with the 2026 football schedule.
Last year, UCLA played seven teams that won nine games or more, and Maryland and Michigan State were the only two teams that didn't go to a bowl game.
This year is different. Here's our breakdown of the Bruin slate.
Breaking Down UCLA's 2026 Football Schedule
Dec 9, 2025; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Bob Chesney is introduced as UCLA Bruins football coach at press conference at Renee Luskin Conference Center Centennial Ballroom.© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Good
September isn't bad. The Bruins have winnable games against Cal and San Diego State
. After that comes a stretch of five games in six against teams that didn't go bowling last year.
Four of the last six games are in (most likely) SoFi Stadium, and overall, nine games are in the Pacific Time Zone. However ...
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The Bad
Going to Oregon
certainly isn't a plus - even if it's coming after a week off - and dates at Cal, Minnesota, and Michigan will all be a problem.
Having to deal with Illinois
is dangerous, Wisconsin
and Michigan State will be better, and ...
What Big Ten Teams UCLA Will Miss
Indiana
, Iowa
, Nebraska
, Northwestern, Ohio State
, Penn State
, Rutgers
, Washington
.
The Bruins don't have to deal with Indiana or Ohio State. That's as good as it gets, and not having to face Penn State, Iowa, or Washington isn't bad, either.
UCLA's Best and Worst Case Scenarios in 2026
Best Case: The Bruins beat Cal and Maryland
After getting hammered early last season, the Bruins come out roaring with a strong win at Cal, tough victories over San Diego State and Purdue
, and they pull off a win on the other side of the country at Maryland for a 4-0 start.
They dominate Los Angeles, rip through the midseason three-game home stretch, stun Illinois, and it easily becomes a bowl season as one of the nation's best turnaround stories.
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Worst Case: It happens again
UCLA started last year with a blowout loss to a former Pac-12 foe, Utah. This time around, it gets rocked by Cal. It followed it up with a stunning loss to a Mountain West team, UNLV. San Diego State will be a Pac-12 team now, and that turns into a loss.
The Big Ten season hits a snag with a losing streak after dropping the date at Oregon, and can't get it back with a brutal November, losing all four Big Ten games.
UCLA Football 2026 Schedule
Sept 5 at Cal
Sept 12 San Diego State
Sept 19 Purdue
Sept 26 at Maryland
Oct 3 OPEN DATE
Oct 10 at Oregon
Oct 17 Wisconsin
Oct 24 Michigan State
Oct 31 Nevada
Nov 7 at Minnesota
Nov 14 Illinois
Nov 21 at Michigan
Nov 28 USC
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Games That Will Decide UCLA's Season
1. at Cal, Sept. 5
Of course there are several bigger games than this, but for a program that's looking to turn the page, winning the opener would mean everything for the attitude.
2. at Maryland, Sept. 26
Not to assume a win over Purdue in the Big Ten opener, but beat the Terps in College Park, and it'll be a fantastic September to build off of.
3. USC, Nov. 28
No matter what happens over the first 11 games, the first year under Chesney might be made or broken by what the Bruins do when USC makes the trip up the road.
Related: Washington Football 2026 Schedule Outlook and Analysis
This story was originally published by College Football News on Jan 28, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add College Football News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
