What to know about Michigan football in 2026

What to know about Michigan football in 2026

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What to know about Michigan football in 2026

There has to be a middle ground in every area of the world, including college football. There are a ton of elite teams in the Big Ten and there are also some programs on the opposite end of the spectrum. UCLA is unfortunately one of those teams near the middle of the pack, although there is a lot of room for improvement since they recently joined back in 2024. Still, they’ve never had a winning season in the Big Ten and they hoped their fortunes would change after getting quarterback Nico Iamaleava, but he failed to live up to expectations. Now, they are just trying to become a respectable foe in a conference that has an endless wave of quality opponents.

Here is a quick look at the UCLA Bruins heading into the 2026 season.

Quick 2025 recap

May 2, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins mascot Josephine Bruin (Josie Bruin) during the spring game at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

  • Record: 3-9, 3-6 Big Ten
  • Bowl Result: N/A

Just when Bruins fans thought it couldn’t get any worse than a 5-7 record in their inaugural Big Ten season, the team proceeded to crumble under the pressure of expectations and finished with a 3-9 record that left fans dazed and embarrassed. Iamaleava failed to live up to his billing as a five-star recruit, throwing just 13 touchdowns to seven interceptions in his junior season after a chaotic feud with the Tennessee Volunteers over his NIL money. Anything that could go wrong for UCLA did go wrong last year, so they hope to put it behind them and just take a step in the right direction for 2026.

Head coach: Bob Chesney, 1st season

May 2, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins coach Bob Chesney reacts during the spring game at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Bob Chesney doesn’t have much experience with coaching major college programs, but the short resumè that he does have is highly impressive. The Dukes have found tremendous success in the Sun Belt Conference after finally transitioning to the FBS in 2022. Chesney became the second coach in quick order to get a promotion from James Madison to a much bigger school, with the first being Indiana coach Curt Cignetti. The new UCLA leader will be tasked with giving them just as much stability and optimism as he brought to James Madison.

Offensive player to know: Nico Iamaleava, Quarterback

Oct 4, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) runs with the ball during the third quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

As previously mentioned, Nico Iamaleava had a disappointing season last year just like most of the team and will need a resilient bounce back to replenish his status as an elite prospect. He has the tools to succeed as a mobile quarterback who can also be dynamic by making tricky throws, but he has yet to put together a complete, consistent season. Chesney led James Madison to one of the best offenses in the country, so now the UCLA brass will look for him to have that same impact on Iamaleava.

Defensive player to know: Cole Martin, Safety

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Brandon Inniss (1) catches a ball in front of UCLA Bruins defensive back Cole Martin (21) during the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Nov. 15, 2025.

The Bruins housed a ton of defensive standouts who were five- or six-year starters during the 2025 season. The experienced veterans brought a great deal of tangible impact to the team, but there is an increased opportunity for young players to gain snaps now. One of these players is safety Cole Martin, who racked up 65 total tackles, 3.5 of which were for a loss, three passes defensed, and an interception in 2025. Maybe a better coach with more stability will give Martin the support he needs to truly break out.

Does Penn State face UCLA in 2026?

Oct 4, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins running back Anthony Woods (6) runs with the ball as Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Amare Campbell (24) tackles during the first quarter at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

No, the Nittany Lions are not scheduled to play the Bruins during the 2026 regular season, but playoff matchups are anyone’s guess at this point, so the two squads could always match up there.

UCLA will be back on Penn State’s schedule in 2028 with a home game in Beaver Stadium. An exact date will be announced at a later time.

Full 2026 UCLA football schedule

Jul 29, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; A detailed view of UCLA Bruins helmet during Pac-12 Media Day at Novo Theater. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Home games in all CAPS.

  • September 5 at California
  • September 12 vs. SAN DIEGO STATE
  • September 19 vs. PURDUE*
  • September 26 at Maryland*
  • October 3 Bye
  • October 10 at Oregon*
  • October 17 vs. WISCONSIN*
  • October 24 vs. MICHIGAN STATE*
  • October 31 vs. NEVADA*
  • November 7 at Minnesota*
  • November 13 (Friday) vs. ILLINOIS*
  • November 21 at Michigan*
  • November 28 vs. USC*

“*” designates Big Ten Conference game

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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: What to know about Michigan Wolverines football in 2026

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