UCLA enters the preseason Big Ten conversation in a familiar spot: somewhere in the middle, with outsiders not exactly buying a major leap just yet.
In Cleveland.com’s annual preseason Big Ten Media Poll, the Bruins landed at No. 13 and were projected to finish 3-6 in conference play. That matches last season’s conference mark, when UCLA tied for 12th.
The program has a new face steering the ship now. Former James Madison head coach Bob Chesney took over after last season, and he’s already reshaped the Bruins’ program. But the poll voters aren’t forecasting a huge Year 1 surge under Chesney.
UCLA’s place in the standings also lines up with the league’s overall pecking order. Six of the Bruins’ 2026 conference opponents were ranked ahead of them in the poll, while three were placed behind them.
At the top, Ohio State was picked to win the Big Ten after collecting 15 first-place votes. The top five in the poll were Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana, USC, and Michigan.
The Big Ten does not publish its own preseason media poll, so Cleveland.com handles the annual vote. Media members rank the teams, with points assigned based on each ballot: 18 for first place, 17 for second, and so on.
Here is how the poll shook out:
No. 1 Ohio State (15) - 540 points, 1.58 average rank, 9-0 in 2025 Big Ten play
No. 2 Oregon (11) - 527 points, 2.00 average rank, 8-1
No. 3 Indiana (5) - 509 points, 2.58 average rank, 9-0
No. 4 USC - 446 points, 4.61 average rank, 7-2
No. 5 Michigan - 430 points, 5.13 average rank, 7-2
No. 6 Penn State - 380 points, 6.74 average rank, 3-6
No. 7 Washington - 366 points, 7.19 average rank, 5-4
No. 8 Iowa - 361 points, 7.35 average rank, 6-3
No. 9 Illinois - 304 points, 9.19 average rank, 5-4
No. 10 Minnesota - 268 points, 10.35 average rank, 5-4
No. 11 Nebraska - 246 points, 11.06 average rank, 4-5
No. 12 Wisconsin - 207 points, 12.58 average rank, 2-7
No. 13 UCLA - 199 points, 12.32 average rank, 3-6
No. 14 Northwestern - 140 points, 14.48 average rank, 4-5
No. 15 Maryland - 137 points, 14.58 average rank, 1-8
No. 16 Michigan State - 99 points, 15.81 average rank, 1-8
No. 17 Rutgers - 97 points, 15.87 average rank, 2-7
No. 18 Purdue - 45 points, 17.55 average rank, 0-9
UCLA will be in Chicago for Big Ten Media Days on Wednesday, July 29. Chesney will be joined by Nico Iamaleava, Cole Martin, and Sammy Omosigho.
The Bruins open the season on Saturday, September 5 at California, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. PT.
In Other News...
One UCLA Freshman Could Crash Chesneys Rebuilt Linebacker Rotation Fast
UCLAs linebacker room looks a lot different heading into 2026, and that is by design. Bob Chesney has leaned heavily on the transfer portal to reshape the roster, landing a class that Rivals ranked 11th nationally, while the high school group came in at 65th and did not feature a four- or five-star prospect. Even so, there is still room for a freshman to force his way into the conversation if he shows he can handle the speed and physicality of the college game.
One name worth watching is Malaki Soliai-Tui, a three-star rookie from Hawaii whose versatility gives him a real chance to matter sooner than expected. He brings the kind of all-purpose skill set that can help a linebacker group in different ways, from playing in space to helping against the run and adding value as a pass rusher, and that sort of flexibility can matter when a rotation is being rebuilt. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA Is Finally Getting Recruiting Respect But Bruins Fans Know The Catch
UCLAs recruiting profile has taken a noticeable step forward since Bob Chesney took over, and the biggest reason is the Bruins work in the transfer portal, which has helped them build one of the better classes in the country. ESPN analyst Eli Lederman recently slotted UCLAs 2027 group 14th overall, putting it in his fourth tier of top recruiting classes and giving the program a level of national respect it has not always enjoyed in recent cycles.
The class has real headliners at the top, but the more interesting part for Bruins fans is whether that momentum can survive the long road to signing day. UCLA still has to keep those commitments intact, and that usually means more than just early buzz, it means winning enough on the field to make the pitch stick as the recruiting calendar moves toward December and then February. [Read more 🡒]
Why UCLA's Portal Overhaul Could Finally Change Everything In 2026
The overhaul UCLA put together through the portal is starting to look less like a patch job and more like a real reset for 2026. The Bruins leaned hard into James Madison transfers, bringing in running back Wayne Knight and defensive lineman West, while also adding multiple wideouts to a receiver room that needed more juice. Knight arrives after a breakout season at JMU with more than 1,300 rushing yards, and the expectation is that he can give UCLA the kind of ground game it has been missing for a while.
West brings a different kind of value, one tied to the front seven and the sort of steady disruption UCLA lacked last season. The broader picture is just as important, though, because the Bruins are set up to have a deeper roster and a training camp full of open battles at most spots. For a program trying to change its trajectory, that kind of competition can be the first sign that the roster finally has enough pieces to make the next step possible. [Read more 🡒]