Live updates from UCLA's Week 1 45-24 win over Cal

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Live updates from UCLA's Week 1 45-24 win over Cal

Live updates from UCLA's Week 1 45-24 win over Cal

Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire

Sun, September 6, 2026 at 1:25 AM UTC ·

13 min read

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The UCLA Bruins had no problems on the road to begin the 2026 season, knocking off Cal 45-24 thanks to a dominant fourth quarter to move UCLA to 1-0 under Bob Chesney.

UCLA's rushing attack looked terrific and once the Bears were forced to pass in the fourth quarter, the Bruins ' defense took over, forcing three turnovers and sealing the win.

Anthony Woods and Wayne Knight combined for five touchdowns on the ground for an impressive start for new UCLA offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy.

What channel is UCLA vs. California on today?

TV Channel:ESPN
Livestream:Fubo (free trial)

UCLA vs California will broadcast nationally on ESPN in the first week of the 2025 college football season. Tom Hart and Roddy Jones will call the game from the booth at the California Memorial Stadium, with Quint Kessenich reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include FUBO , which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

UCLA vs California predictions, picks, odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday, Sept. 4

UCLA 27, California 24:It should be a close matchup, but Chesney's improved defense and new playmakers could bring the Bruins their first win of the season.
Spread:UCLA by -2.5 (-110)
Over/under:53.5 (-110)
Moneyline:-130 UCLA, +110 California

UCLA vsCal weather forecast

Forecasts for Saturday night in Berkeley, CA call for a high of 68 degrees with 0% chance of rainfall.

FINAL: UCLA moves to 1-0 with 45-24 win

02:26 AM ET, September 6 2026

UCLA dominates the fourth quarter 21-0, controlling the game with their offensive and defensive lines. Bob Chesney passes his first test with flying colors.

UCLA is already a third of the way to their 2025 win total but the Bruins sights are set much higher in 2026.

Sahir West puts this one to bed

02:21 AM ET, September 6 2026

The Cal offensive line has no answers for the UCLA defensive front. JMU transfer Sahir West picks up a sack and the Bruins defense forces a turnover on downs after forcing a benching at right tackle from the Bears.

Anthony Woods adds insult to injury with a 53-yard touchdown run to make it a 45-24 ball game with 1:17 left in the fourth quarter. The good news keeps coming for UCLA, as Nico Iamaleava returned to the field for the one-play drive.

A hat trick for Wayne Knight

02:09 AM ET, September 6 2026

Not only did Wayne Knight pick up a key first down for the Bruins with backup quarterback Madden Iamaleava, Knight capped off the drive with a third rushing touchdown of the game.

UCLA now leads 38-24 with under three minutes to play. Perhaps now Tosh Lupoi will learn his name . UCLA is getting very close to moving to 1-0 on the season.

Nico Iamaleava injured on clutch third down pickup

02:03 AM ET, September 6 2026

Iamaleava kept the ball on a 3rd-and-1 and picked up a crucial third down for UCLA. Iamaleava fumbled on the play but was luckily enough to recover the football. What wasn't as lucky was Iamaleava being helped into the blue tent after the play.

Madden Iamaleava, Nico's younger brother, takes over at quarterback for UCLA with a chance to ice the game on the road.

Is it closing time in NorCal?

01:59 AM ET, September 6 2026

For the second-straight drive Sagapolutele is intercepted, with Ta'Shawn James getting another interception. Sagapolutele went over 200 pass attempts without throwing a pick, now UCLA has gotten him twice and has forced three turnovers from the Cal quarterback in the game.

UCLA takes over in plus territory with a chance to make it a two-possession game.

UCLA back on top following Sagapolutele interception

01:52 AM ET, September 6 2026

The defenses have settled back in, with UCLA forcing Cal into a third down where Sagapolutele was intercepted by Ta'Shawn James. It's the second turnover of the night for the Bruins defense.

UCLA's offense wasted no time, with Wayne Knight taking the first play of the drive 31-yards for a go-ahead touchdown. Knight now has 47 yards and two touchdowns on just five carries in the game. UCLA leads 31-24 with 8:26 left in the fourth.

Miscommunication gets the ball back to UCLA

01:39 AM ET, September 6 2026

The fourth quarter began with ESPN interviewing Bob Chesney, with Chesney pleading the need for a stop. It wasn't easy but UCLA's defense got that stop.

On 4th-and-3, Cal's backup center fired a snap that Sagapolutele was not expecting which ended up on the ground. Cal was able to recover the fumble but it still resulted in a turnover on downs, with UCLA taking over near midfield with 11:10 remaining in regulation.

Cal's crowd comes alive, forces UCLA punt

01:21 AM ET, September 6 2026

Momentum may have swung on this one. Flags have slowed the pace of the game and the UCLA offense couldn't take advantage of a facemask penalty against the Bears.

UCLA is forced to punt the ball back to the Cal offense, giving Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele a chance to put the Bears on top. The home crowd has come alive in the second half, with the Bruins up to seven penalties for 62 yards.

Cal evens the game at 24-24 with impressive drive

01:12 AM ET, September 6 2026

We're all tied up following a 14-play touchdown drive for the Bears that was capped off with a 1-yard touchdown by Adam Mohammed. Mohammed sliced the UCLA defense on the drive, as he's up to 83 yards in the game with 19 carries. 45 of Mohammed's 83 yards came on the Cal scoring drive.

3:50 remains in the third quarter as the Bruins are set for their second drive of the second half as we're past 10p.m. on the West Coast. The Pac-12 After Dark vibes have never been more back.

Landon Ellis leaves with an injury

12:56 AM ET, September 6 2026

On the first play from scrimmage in the second half we see an ejection, with former USC Trojan AJ Tuitele driving Landon Ellis into the ground and picking up a targeting penalty. A reverse pass was snuffed out by the Cal defense but it proved to be a costly play call.

While Tuitele is gone for the day, it seems unlikely that Ellis retuns today either. Following the 15-yard penalty, UCLA saw their drive stall as Iamaleava was sacked on third down to end the drive. Cal takes the ball back with 12:18 left in the third quarter.

HALFTIME: UCLA leads 24-17 after teams take turns scoring in final moments of the half

12:25 AM ET, September 6 2026

Sagapolutele finds Mason Mini for an eight-yard touchdown with 13 seconds left in the first half. It was a tough drive for Dante Lovett, who was targeted multiple times on the drive. If UCLA lets this one slip away, the Iamaleava interception leading to a last-second Cal touchdown will be a major reason why.

Sagapolutele torched the UCLA defense on the drive. After two timeouts, Cal opted to kick the PAT rather than go for two, trimming their deficit to 21-17 entering the half.

Instead of taking a knee and going to halftime, UCLA's offense surprised everyone as Iamaleava hit Matthews for a 43-yard pickup against an unsuspecting Cal defense. Bhaghani lined up for a 38-yard field goal and hits it to give the Bruins a touchdown lead.

UCLA gives Cal the ball right back

12:13 AM ET, September 6 2026

Nico Iamaleava uncorked a wild one, throwing a red zone interception to give Cal a chance to stop the bleeding. UCLA had a chance to make it a three-score game but go scoreless after an ugly turnover.

Sagapolutele makes it a costly interception, connecting on a 50-yard pass to Ian Strong to get into UCLA territory with just 26 seconds left in the first half.

Sammy Omosigho gets UCLA the ball back

12:09 AM ET, September 6 2026

UCLA keeps momentum on their side as linebacker Sammy Omosigho lights up Sagopolutele and forces a fumble. Bruin defender Ameir Washington jumps on top of it to give the UCLA offense another crack before halftime.

The Bruins forced only 10 sacks all of last season, UCLA has three in the first half tonight versus Cal. Omosigho, the UCLA captain, has nine tackles, a sack and two tackles for losses in his first half with the Bruins.

UCLA's ground game shows life, Wayne Knight finds the end zone

11:57 PM ET, September 5 2026

The UCLA offense keeps rolling in the first half, with Wayne Knight easily marching in for an 8-yard touchdown. After years of weak offensive line play, the new-look Bruins has a new feel. Knight's second rush as a Bruin winds up in the end zone, as UCLA has scored three touchdowns on five drives.

The Bruins push their lead to 21-10 with 3:23 left in the second quarter. We're not even to halftime and UCLA already has 120 rushing yards.

Nico Iamaleava finds Mikey Matthews for a 33-yard pickup

11:52 PM ET, September 5 2026

After a UCLA sack forced a Cal punt, Iamaleava went deep and found Matthews for a 33-yard grab. Following the big play, UCLA found themselves in a 3rd-and-13 where Iamaleava found Landon Ellis for a 20-yard pickup, which included some much-needed YAC to pick up the first down.

Jaivian Thomas carries the ball into the red zone as the Bruins look to extend their lead.

Anthony Woods defies physics on 31-yard touchdown

11:39 PM ET, September 5 2026

UCLA took their first lead of the season on a 31-yard Anthony Woods touchdown on a play where it looked as if Anthony Woods would be stopped for a modest gain. Woods emerged from the pile on his feet and found the angle to the pylon.

It was an electric drive for UCLA, with Rowe, Mikey Matthews, Jaivian Thomas and Iamaleava marching the Bruins down the field. Bhaghani's PAT is good, giving UCLA a 14-10 lead with 10:19 left in the second quarter.

Cal converts on 4th-and-2, retakes lead

11:32 PM ET, September 5 2026

UCLA's defense forced a 4th-and-2 but their efforts went for naught as defensive back Scooter Jackson was called for a clear defensive pass interferance, setting up a 1st and Goal for the Bears.

The Bruins' defense stood tall at their own goal line, with Jalen Woods blowing up a run on second down before a Cal false start which set up a third-and-long. After a short gain on third down, Cal settled for a field goal for Towns McGough to take a 10-7 lead with 12:46 left in the first half.

Former Cal Bear and current UCLA defensive tackle Tyson Ford was injured on the drive, becoming the third Bruins defender to get injured in the first half.

Refs miss potential roughing the passer penalty against Cal?

11:16 PM ET, September 5 2026

Neither team can protect the quarterback on third down, leading to two more punts. ESPN rules analyst Jerry Ginn states that the referee crew missed a roughing the passer against Cal, as a Bears' defender's elbow hit Iamaleava in the helmet on a third down pass attempt.

A Scott Taylor facemask call against UCLA jump-starts a Cal drive that has made it's way into UCLA territory.

Both defenses force three-and-outs on second drives

11:03 PM ET, September 5 2026

UCLA's defense stands tall on a 3rd-and-2 and forces a punt on Cal's second drive. The UCLA ensuing offensive drive begins with Anthony Woods hurdling forward over a Cal defender.

It's a quick drive for the Bruins though, going three-and-out while picking up an illegal formation penalty on third down.

UCLA ties it up on opening drive

10:55 PM ET, September 5 2026

After the 22-yard catch for Knight, Nico Iamaleava scores the first touchdown of the season for UCLA with a nine-yard touchdown rush on his first carry of the season.

We're two drives into the game and we're all tied up at 7-7 with 7:00 minutes to play in the first quarter.

UCLA's offense shows some creativity early

10:53 PM ET, September 5 2026

Brian Rowe Jr. picks up 20-yards on a reverse a play after picking up a first down on a nine-yard reception.

UCLA's offense as quickly moved into Cal territory on their first drive of the season. Nico Iamaleava and the offense is in rhythm, hitting on several screen passes on the opening drive.

Wayne Knight moves UCLA into the red zone with a one-handed snag on a checkdown that turned into a 22-yard reception. 1st and Goal UCLA.

Another Bruin down with an injury, Cal leads 7-0

10:46 PM ET, September 5 2026

New UCLA safety Tao Johnson is down with an injury, the second injury of the drive for the Bruins. The UCLA defense can't get the third down stop with Johnson on the sideline.

A play after the third down conversion, Cal scores a touchdown with Sagapolutele finding Chase Hendricks for a nine-yard touchdown. PAT is good and the Bruins are down 7-0 after a 10-play opening drive for the Bears.

Cal starts with the ball

10:41 PM ET, September 5 2026

The 2026 opens with a Mateen Bhaghani touchback. First-year defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler's group is up first. The Bob Chesney era is underway for the Bruins.

Cal picks up a first down and UCLA defensive lineman Amier Washington is down with an injury. UCLA's pass rush forces a Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele throwaway. Sagapolutele was unphased, converting a 3rd-and-9 with a 28-yard pickup through the air on the next play.

Uniform watch: UCLA rocking gold pants for the season opener

10:28 PM ET, September 5 2026

We're just minutes away from a kickoff. Both teams are loosening up on the field, with the UCLA Bruins rocking their white jerseys with gold pants and white socks. New UCLA defensive end Sahir West makes it look good as we move closer and closer the start of the 2026 season.

This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Live updates from UCLA's Week 1 45-24 win over Cal

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