UCLA Releases 2026 Football Schedule

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UCLA released its official 2026 football schedule on Tuesday. The Bruins are in for a lot of changes next season now that Bob Chesney is the head coach of the program.

UCLA dealt with adversity throughout the 2025 season, starting the season 0-3 then navigating a mid-season coaching change. Despite the challenges, the Bruins managed to go on to win three games, including a shocking upset against then-No. 7 Penn State.

Starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava has opted to return to UCLA next season, which will provide some continuity for the Bruins in 2026. But overall, the coaching staff has been completely revamped by Chesney.

Chesney brought multiple James Madison coaches with him to Westwood, including offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy and defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler.

UCLA will make its season debut on the road on Sept. 5 against California then will finish the regular season with a rivalry game against USC on Nov. 28.

Chesney led James Madison to its first College Football Playoffs berth in program history last season, and the hope is that he can get the Bruins there in 2026.

Read UCLA’s full press release below

LOS ANGELES – The Big Ten Conference officially announced its 2026 football schedule Tuesday afternoon, providing dates for UCLA’s nine league games. Coupled with three non-conference contests, UCLA is scheduled to play seven home games and five on the road next fall.

Season tickets are now on sale and can be purchased at this LINK. Times and television details for all games will be released at a later date.

UCLA head coach Bob Chesney will make his debut on the Bruins’ sideline in a road rivalry contest at California on Sept. 5 at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley to open the season.

The Bruins return for their home opener versus San Diego State on Sept. 12. Big Ten Conference play will begin the following week on Sept. 19 with another home game against Purdue, who is visiting UCLA for the first time since 1979.

UCLA leaves the Pacific time zone only once over the first eight games of the season, occurring in Week 4 on Sept. 26 with its first trip to Maryland since 1955. The Bruins downed the Terrapins at home in last year’s meeting, 20-17, to gain a 2-1 edge in the series record.

Following its one bye week this season, UCLA travels north to face longtime West Coast foe Oregon at Autzen Stadium on Oct. 10. The Bruins own a 40-33 all-time advantage over the Ducks in a series that dates back to 1928.

UCLA fans will enjoy a three-week stretch of consecutive home games against Wisconsin (Oct. 17), Michigan State (Oct. 24) and Nevada (Oct. 31). The Badgers and Spartans are playing their first regular-season games at UCLA since the 1980 and 1974 seasons, respectively. UCLA’s third and final non-conference contest versus Nevada, originally scheduled for Week 3, has been pushed back to Week 9.

The homestretch of the season starts with a trip to Minnesota on Nov. 7. UCLA then welcomes Illinois the following week on Nov. 15.

UCLA will face Michigan at “the Big House” for the first time since 1996 in its final road game of the regular season on Nov. 21. The Bruins close the year at home versus crosstown rival USC in the Battle for L.A. on Nov. 28. The two programs have met each since season 1936 (90 straight years).

Schedules are arranged so that each of the 18 Big Ten Conference teams will continue to play nine intraconference games per season, and teams will play every other conference opponent at least twice, and not more than three times, in a five-year period.

The 18 conference teams will be vying to compete in the 2026 Big Ten Championship game Dec. 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis with the winner claiming the league’s automatic entry into the College Football Playoff.

2026 UCLA Football Schedule

(All-Caps = Home Game, * = Big Ten Conference Game)

Sept. 5 – at California

Sept. 12 – SAN DIEGO STATE

Sept. 19 – PURDUE*

Sept. 26 – at Maryland*

BYE

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*

Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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