UCLA’s fast start has the Bruins in a spot nobody would have expected back in the preseason: CBS Sports is projecting them into the 2026 College Football Playoff. The Bruins, ranked No. 9 at 6-0 overall and 3-0 in conference play, currently sit as the No. 8 seed in that projected bracket.
That’s a stunning rise for a program that finished 3-9 last season and began this year unranked. Halfway through the season, UCLA has climbed all the way into the top 10 of both the AP and Coaches Polls, and the reason is hard to miss - the Bruins are not just winning, they’re doing it with authority.
They have separated themselves from weaker opponents, but the bigger statement has come against teams with real bite. UCLA handled then-No.
13 Oregon a few weeks ago and also took care of Wisconsin, which entered this past weekend at 4-1. Those kinds of wins are why this surge looks real instead of like a fluky hot streak.
The second half of the schedule also opens the door wider, which is why CBS Sports sees a path for UCLA to finish 12-0 or 11-1. “UCLA may feel like a step below some of the other teams in this field, but the reality is the Bruins have a real shot to finish 12-0 or 11-1,” according to John Talty of CBS Sports.
If the projection holds, UCLA would open against No. 9 seed Tennessee, with a win putting the Bruins in line for a potential meeting with No. 1-seed Miami. That would place UCLA across from a field packed with talent, but even getting to this point would represent a major accomplishment in Chesney’s first season.
The rest of the projected bracket has No. 5 seed Ole Miss matched with No. 12 seed Boise State, with No. 4 seed BYU waiting for that winner. No. 6 seed Indiana would take on No.
11 Notre Dame, with No. 3 seed Georgia on deck. In the final quarter of the bracket, No. 7 seed Texas Tech would face No. 10 seed Kentucky, and the winner would move on to No. 2 seed Ohio State.
In Other News...
Why UCLA Crowd Numbers Suddenly Feel Different At The Rose Bowl
The numbers at the Rose Bowl have started to tell a different story this fall, and it is changing how UCLA football crowds are being read in real time. What used to be announced as attendance was often based on tickets distributed, which could make the official figure look fuller than the stands actually felt on game day. Now, the school is using tickets scanned at the gate, a shift that brings the public count closer to the actual turnstile traffic.
That helps explain why the eye test and the game-day announcement may not line up exactly, especially with parts of the stadium affected by renovations and tarps covering some seats. The recent Wisconsin game was announced at 36,045, a total that matched the scanned-ticket count, offering a clearer picture of what UCLA is drawing at the Rose Bowl even if the building still looks different from its official capacity. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA's Unbeaten Start Suddenly Comes With A Bigger Concern
UCLAs unbeaten start has given the program real momentum, but the conversation around the Bruins has quickly shifted from rankings and results to quarterback health. With No. 9 UCLA set to meet Michigan State next, the offense is dealing with a significant change after Nico Iamaleavas knee injury, and the timing makes the next stretch of the season feel a little different than it did just a week ago.
The Bruins now have to adjust on the fly, with Ty Dieffenbach positioned to handle the offense as UCLA keeps pushing through an undefeated start. Michigan State arrives on a five-game skid and is still trying to find more consistency in its rushing attack, while also having to account for Wayne Knight on the other side. Even in a matchup that looks manageable on paper, the bigger question for UCLA is how smoothly the offense can keep moving without its top quarterback. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA Fans Finally Get An Early Look At Cronins New Roster
Mick Cronins next UCLA roster will finally be on display for fans this fall, and the first chance to get a look comes in the preseason at Pauley Pavilion. The Bruins are set to open their 2026-2027 exhibition slate there, with the game available on the Big Ten Networks streaming service and through UCLAs radio network, giving supporters an early read on how the new group is coming together.
For UCLA, the matchup is less about the scoreboard than the sorting process that comes with a fresh team. The exhibition is the first of two before the regular season begins, a useful test for the staff as it evaluates players, builds chemistry and starts to answer the most basic questions about who fits where. Another exhibition is still on the calendar later in the month, leaving a little more time for the rotation picture to take shape. [Read more 🡒]