The 2026 UCLA Bruins football team represents the University of California, Los Angeles as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They are led by first-year head coach Bob Chesney, and play their home games at Rose Bowl located in Pasadena, California. It is the Bruins' 107th season overall and 3rd as a member of the Big Ten.
Offseason Departures NFL draft
Name Pos. Team Round Pick
Outgoing transfers Name No. Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown New school 1 DL 6'0" 190 FR Sacramento, CA Florida 1 WR 6'2" 205 SO North Highlands, CA Virginia 2 DB 6'1" 175 JR Federal Way, WA Auburn 3 WR 6'2" 190 SO Los Angeles, CA Nebraska 4 WR 6'4" 205 SR Long Beach, CA 10 LB 6'3" 210 Sr Chicago, IL Louisville 11 WR 6'3" 185 SR Desoto, TX 12 DB 5'10" 185 FR Lansing, MI Rice 12 QB 6'6" 210 SO Orinda, CA Nevada 14 WR 6'3" 195 SO Atherton, CA Stanford 15 DL 6'5" 265 JR Las Vegas, NV Nebraska 18 QB 6'3" 180 FR Weston, MA Appalachian State 18 DB 6'1" 200 JR Stockton, CA Cal Poly 19 DB 6'0" 190 SR Pasadena, CA 22 DB 6'2" 205 JR Vallejo, CA Fresno State 23 DB 5'10" 185 SR Byron, GA 27 DB 6'2" 195 FR Pittsburg, CA College of San Mateo 28 DB 6'1" 185 JR Compton, CA Withdrew/returning to UCLA 28 TE 6'5" 240 JR Murrieta, CA Washington State 29 DB 5'10" 175 RS-SO Los Angeles, CA Colorado Mesa 32 LB 6'1" 235 SO Santa Clarita, CA Oklahoma State 41 LS 6'1" 220 FR Houston, TX Rice 49 P 6'4" 210 JR Mosman, NSW Texas Tech 54 OL 6'7" 330 FR Rocklin, CA Sacramento State 55 DL 6'4" 311 SO Las Vegas, NV Withdrew/returning to UCLA 69 OL 6'5" 325 SR Lagos, Nigeria Syracuse 92 DL 6'4" 335 JR Oakland, CA Penn State 94 PK 6'1" 175 JR San Diego, CA Withdrew/returning to UCLA 95 DL 6'3" 310 RS-SR Paterson, NJ 99 DL 6'5" 320 SR Clovis, CA Penn State
Retirements
Coaching departures Name Previous Position New Position DeShaun Foster UCLA - Head coach None Jethro Franklin UCLA - Defensive line coach NoneRamsen GolpashinUCLA - Senior defensive analystSan Jose State - Offensive line coach Andy Kwon UCLA - Offensive line coach Memphis - Offensive line coach Ikaika Malloe UCLA - Defensive coordinator and interior linebackers coach Penn State - Run game coordinator and defensive line coach Demetrice Martin UCLA - Passing game coordinator and secondary Arizona State - Senior defensive analyst Corey Miller UCLA - Head football performance coach Liberty - Assistant football performance coach Jerry Neuheisel UCLA - Interim offensive coordinator, assistant head coach and tight ends coach Northwestern - Quarterbacks coach Tim Skipper UCLA - Interim head coach Cal Poly - Head coach Tino Sunseri UCLA - Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Indiana - Co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Burl Toler III UCLA - Pass game coordinator and wide receivers coach None Scott White UCLA - Associate head coach and linebackers coach San Diego State - Run game coordinator and linebackers coach
Acquisitions Incoming transfers Name No. Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Prev. school 0 WR 6'2" 200 Sr Houston, TX San Jose State 1 WR 6'2" 170 R-Jr Orlando, FL Florida 2 WR 5'11" 155 So Concord, NC South Carolina 3 RB 5'7" 189 R-Sr Smyrna, DE James Madison 4 WR 5'9.5" 185 Sr Detroit, MI Michigan 6 S 6'2" 180 R-Sr Idaho Falls, ID Utah 10 LB 6'1" 215 R-Sr Heartland, TX Oklahoma 11 WR 6'3" 185 Sr Orange, VA James Madison 12 S 6'2.5" 175 R-Jr West Chester, OH Ohio State 14 QB 6'5" 185 R-Jr Agoura Hills, CA Cal Poly 15 WR 5'11" 185 R-Fr Eastvale, CA Washington 15 DL 6'3" 220 R-So Baltimore, MD James Madison 18 CB 5'9" 160 So Duluth, GA UConn 19 DL 6'3" 235 R-Jr Arcadia, CA California 21 CB 6'0" 195 R-Jr Crofton, MD Virginia Tech 22 RB 6'0" 185 R-So Gilbert, AZ Iowa State 23 CB 5'9" 170 So Fulshear, TX Montana State 27 S 6'1" 185 R-Jr Oklahoma City, OK Iowa State 32 CB 5'9" 160 Sr Rock Hill, SC James Madison 35 P 6'1" 190 So Melbourne, AUS Sam Houston 35 DL 6'3" 250 R-So Orem, UT Utah Tech 39 LB 6'2.5" 225 R-Fr Delran, NJ Notre Dame 45 P/K 6'4" 208 R-Sr San Juan Capistrano, CA Oklahoma State 51 IOL 6'2" 280 R-Jr Harrisburg, PA James Madison 52 IOL 6'2" 300 R-Sr Ashburn, VA James Madison 54 IOL 6'4" 290 R-Sr Mercer Island, WA Harvard 56 LB 6'0" 228 R-Sr Winter Garden, FL James Madison 65 OT 6'7" 285 R-Sr Gig Harbor, WA Boise State 68 OT 6'5" 300 R-Sr Fairburn, GA South Alabama 71 IOL 6'2" 311 R-Jr Inglewood, CA Arizona State 76 OT 6'7" 265 R-Sr Lemont, IL Eastern Michigan 77 IOL 6'5" 270 R-Fr Canton, MA James Madison 85 TE 6'4" 225 R-Sr Omaha, NE Kansas State 88 TE 6'3.5" 225 R-Fr Oxnard, CA Boston College 89 TE 6'5" 225 R-Jr Peachtree City, GA James Madison 90 DL 6'2.5" 245 R-Jr Orange, TX Texas Tech 92 DL 6'3" 260 R-Jr Philadelphia, PA Rutgers 95 DL 6'4.2" 265 R-Jr St. Louis, MO California 97 DL 6'5" 220 R-Sr Fairfax, VA James Madison 99 DL 6'2.5" 290 R-Fr Philadelphia, PA Ohio State -- TE 6'6" 240 R-Sr Cambridge, MA Wake Forest -- S 6'0" 190 R-Sr Tracy, CA Cal Poly
Recruiting class
New walk-ons
Coaches acquisitions Name Previous Position New PositionDrew CananJMU - Special teams coordinator and tight ends coachUCLA - Special teams coordinator and tight ends coachBob ChesneyJMU - Head coachUCLA - Head coachSam DanielsJMU - Defensive line coachUCLA - Defensive ends coachAnthony DiMicheleJMU - Safeties coachUCLA - Safeties coachColin HitschlerJMU - Defensive coordinatorUCLA - Defensive coordinatorDean KennedyJMU - Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coachUCLA - Offensive coordinatorColin LockettNew Mexico - Wide receivers coachUCLA - Wide receivers coachChris SmithJMU - Offensive line coach and run game coordinatorUCLA - Offensive line coach and run game coordinatorVic So'otoCal - Linebackers coachUCLA - Linebackers coachLegi SuiaunoaMichigan State - Defensive line coachUCLA - Defensive line coachEddie Whitley Jr.JMU - Cornerbacks coachUCLA - Defensive backs coachJon Boyer Michigan State assistant quarterbacks coach Mike Cordova James Madison assistant tight ends coach Chris Monfiletto Buffalo assistant special teams coordinator/specialist coach
Preseason NFL Combine Spring game Big Ten media days July 29, 2026 – UCLA Big Ten Conference media day
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries
at California (rivalry)
Statistics UCLACAL First downs 20 23 Plays–yards 54–461 87–410 Rushes–yards 277 119 Passing yards 184 291 Passing: –– 14–22–1 26–47–2 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 25:11 34:49 Team Category Player Statistics UCLA Passing Nico Iamaleava 14/22, 184 yards, INT Rushing Anthony Woods 8 carries, 118 yards, 2 TD Receiving Mikey Matthews 4 receptions, 88 yards California Passing Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele 24/41, 271 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Adam Mohammed 28 carries, 120 yards, TD Receiving Ian Strong 5 receptions, 94 yards
Wayne Knight ran for three touchdowns to help UCLA win 45–24 over California in Bob Chesney's first game as the Bruins head coach. UCLA safety Ta’Shawn James recorded two interceptions off Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele in the fourth quarter, when the Bruins outscored the Golden Bears 21–0. UCLA rushed for all six of its touchdowns, including two by Anthony Woods.
vs San Diego State
Statistics SDSUUCLA First downs 14 19 Plays–yards 56–189 66–365 Rushes–yards 38–144 43–214 Passing yards 45 151 Passing: comp–att–int 6–18–1 14–23–1 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 25:05 34:55 Team Category Player Statistics San Diego State Passing Jayden Denegal 6/17, 45 yards, TD, INT Rushing Lucky Sutton 19 carries, 81 yards Receiving Jackson Ford 1 reception, 19 yards, TD UCLA Passing Nico Iamaleava 14/22, 151 yards, INT Rushing Wayne Knight 13 carries, 97 yards, 3 TD Receiving Semaj Morgan 6 receptions, 73 yards
Knight scored three touchdowns for the second consecutive week, and the Bruins won their home opener 28–10 over San Diego State. UCLA ran for 214 yards, their second straight game over 200 yards. They did not allow a touchdown until 2:28 remaining in the game.
vs Purdue
Statistics PURUCLA First downs 23 35 Plays–yards 59–488 80–645 Rushes–yards 28–63 48–369 Passing yards 425 276 Passing: –– 20–31–1 19–32–0 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 23:50 36:10 Team Category Player Statistics Purdue Passing Ryan Browne 19/30, 378 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Fame Ijeboi 17 carries, 47 yards, 2 TD Receiving Xavier Townsend 6 receptions, 162 yards, 2 TD UCLA Passing Nico Iamaleava 19/31, 276 yards, 3 TD Rushing Wayne Knight 18 carries, 177 yards, 2 TD Receiving Semaj Morgan 4 receptions, 72 yards, 2 TD
In UCLA's Big Ten opener, Knight ran for 177 yards and two touchdowns and Nico Iamaleava passed for 276 yards and three touchdowns in a 52–28 win over Purdue. Woods ran for a 16-yard touchdown on the Bruins first drive of the third quarter to help them regain the lead, and they pulled away in the second half. UCLA improved to 3–0, matching their win total from the previous season. Chesney became the third Bruins coach in the last 50 years to begin their tenure 3–0, joining Terry Donahue (1976) and Jim Mora (2012).
at Maryland
Statistics UCLAMD First downs 19 13 Plays–yards 63–475 69–181 Rushes–yards 39–266 30–39 Passing yards 209 142 Passing: –– 15–24–0 19–39–4 Time of possession 31:34 28:24 Team Category Player Statistics UCLA Passing Nico Iamaleava 15/24, 209 yards, TD Rushing Wayne Knight 10 carries, 100 yards, TD Receiving Aidan Mizell 1 reception, 83 yards, TD Maryland Passing Malik Washington 18/38, 142 yards, 4 INT Rushing Iverson Howard 12 carries, 34 yards Receiving Chris Durr 7 receptions, 56 yards
The Bruins intercepted Maryland quarterback Malik Washington four times, returning two for touchdowns, in a 54–3 win over the Terrapins. Knight rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown. Chesney became the second head coach to win their first four games with UCLA, joining Red Sanders in 1949.
at No. 13 Oregon
Statistics UCLAORE First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics UCLA Passing Rushing Receiving Oregon Passing Rushing Receiving
vs Wisconsin
Statistics WISUCLA First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Wisconsin Passing Rushing Receiving UCLA Passing Rushing Receiving
vs Michigan State
Statistics MSUUCLA First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Michigan State Passing Rushing Receiving UCLA Passing Rushing Receiving
vs Nevada
Statistics NEVUCLA First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Nevada Passing Rushing Receiving UCLA Passing Rushing Receiving
at Minnesota
Statistics UCLAMINN First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics UCLA Passing Rushing Receiving Minnesota Passing Rushing Receiving
vs Illinois
Statistics ILLUCLA First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving UCLA Passing Rushing Receiving
at Michigan
Statistics UCLAMICH First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics UCLA Passing Rushing Receiving Michigan Passing Rushing Receiving
vs USC
Statistics USCUCLA First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics USC Passing Rushing Receiving UCLA Passing Rushing Receiving
Personnel Roster
Statistics
Team