UCLA's 2026 Football Schedule: A New Era Begins with Big Ten Battles and Classic Rivalries
The 2026 college football season is shaping up to be a pivotal one in Westwood, as UCLA officially steps into its next chapter under new head coach Bob Chesney. The Bruins’ full schedule is now set, and it’s a compelling mix of old rivalries, new Big Ten showdowns, and a few historic reunions that should have fans circling dates on their calendars.
Chesney’s debut won’t be a soft landing - UCLA opens the season on the road in a rivalry matchup at California on September 5. There’s no easing into the job when your first game is in Berkeley, and the Bruins will need to be sharp early to set the tone for the season.
The home opener comes a week later on September 12, when San Diego State visits the Rose Bowl. Then it’s right into Big Ten play, with Purdue rolling into town on September 19. The Boilermakers haven’t played at UCLA since 1979, so this one brings a bit of historical flavor along with the conference stakes.
The Bruins' first trip outside the Pacific time zone doesn’t come until Week 4, when they travel to Maryland on September 26. It’ll be UCLA’s first visit to College Park since 1955 - a 71-year gap - and a chance to build on last year’s narrow win over the Terrapins. That game gave UCLA a 2-1 edge in the all-time series, and this one could have early Big Ten implications.
After a bye week, the Bruins head to Autzen Stadium on October 10 to take on Oregon. It’s a long-running West Coast rivalry that dates back nearly a century, and while UCLA holds a 40-33 edge in the series, recent years have tilted toward the Ducks. This one will be a key test of how Chesney’s team stacks up against a familiar foe in a new conference setting.
Then comes a rare and welcome treat for UCLA fans - a three-game homestand. Wisconsin visits on October 17, followed by Michigan State on October 24, and then Nevada on October 31.
The Badgers haven’t played a regular-season game at UCLA since 1980, and it’s been even longer for the Spartans, who last came to town in 1974. That stretch could be crucial for the Bruins, both in terms of momentum and conference positioning.
Nevada, originally scheduled for earlier in the season, was moved to Halloween weekend, giving UCLA a late-season non-conference breather before the final stretch.
The Bruins hit the road again on November 7, heading to Minnesota, then return home to face Illinois on November 14. Both games will be important in the Big Ten standings, especially as the postseason picture starts to take shape.
UCLA’s final road game is a big one - a trip to the Big House to face Michigan on November 21. It’s the Bruins’ first game in Ann Arbor since 1996, and it promises to be one of the marquee matchups of the conference slate. It’s also a potential measuring stick for where UCLA stands in the Big Ten hierarchy.
The regular season wraps up, as always, with the Battle for L.A. against USC on November 28. Ninety straight years of this rivalry, and it never gets old. With both teams now in the Big Ten, there’s even more on the line than bragging rights.
This season marks a new era for UCLA football - not just with a new head coach, but with a full dive into Big Ten competition. Every team in the expanded 18-member conference plays nine league games each year, and over a five-year span, will face every other Big Ten opponent at least twice, but no more than three times. It’s a scheduling model designed for balance, but it also means every game matters - especially with the Big Ten Championship set for December 5 in Indianapolis and a College Football Playoff berth on the line.
Here’s how the 2026 UCLA football schedule stacks up:
2026 UCLA Football Schedule
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*
(*Home games in CAPS; asterisk denotes Big Ten Conference game)
It’s a schedule filled with intrigue, opportunity, and plenty of challenges. For Coach Chesney and the Bruins, the 2026 season isn’t just about adjusting to a new league - it’s about proving they belong in the thick of the Big Ten race from day one.