Bob Chesney’s UCLA football coaching debut set for Sept. 5 at Cal
Bob Chesney’s UCLA coaching debut has been set.
The Bruins and their new head coach will take on former Pac-12 rival Cal on Sept. 5 in Berkeley in their 2026 debut, as the Big Ten Conference released all 18 teams’ schedules Tuesday.
UCLA’s schedule, which did not feature kickoff times, could be seen as favorable. The Bruins will avoid Big Ten matchups against reigning national champion Indiana and College Football Playoff semifinalist Ohio State.
Chesney’s home debut will come Sept. 12 against San Diego State, followed by another home date on Sept. 19 in a Big Ten opener against Purdue.
UCLA then travels to Maryland, playing the Terrapins for the first time there since 1955 in a Sept. 26 kickoff.
That game will be followed by the Bruins’ only bye week, which could be well received considering the next game is against College Football Playoff semifinalist Oregon on Oct. 10 in Eugene. Chesney’s last game as James Madison’s coach was a 51-34 loss to the Ducks in the opening round of the 12-team College Football Playoff.
After facing the Ducks, the Bruins will stay home for three consecutive weeks against Wisconsin (Oct. 17), Michigan State (Oct. 24) and nonconference foe Nevada (Oct. 31).
November finds the Bruins traveling to Minnesota (Nov. 7) then back home against Illinois (Nov. 14).
For the first time since 1996, UCLA is off to “the Big House” to take on Michigan on Nov. 21 in its final road game of the regular season.
UCLA will wrap up its regular season by hosting crosstown rival USC on Nov. 28. The Trojans defeated the Bruins, 29-10, in last year’s showdown at the Coliseum.
Of the Bruins’ 12 opponents in 2026, other than Oregon playing in the CFP, half appeared in bowl games last season: Cal (Hawaii Bowl), San Diego State (New Mexico Bowl), Minnesota (Rate Bowl), Illinois (Music City Bowl), Michigan (Citrus Bowl) and USC (Alamo Bowl).
UCLA is coming off its second consecutive season not winning the minimum six games to qualify for a bowl game. The Bruins endured a trying 3-9 season in which head coach DeShaun Foster was fired after an 0-3 start.
Tim Skipper took over as interim coach, leading the Bruins to upsets of No. 7 Penn State and Michigan State and a third consecutive Big Ten victory against Maryland before ending the season with five consecutive losses. The Bruins were outscored 209-61 during that final stretch.
2026 UCLA football schedule
Sept. 5: at Cal
Sept. 12: San Diego State
Sept. 19: Purdue
Sept. 26: at Maryland
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