UCLA football’s 2026 schedule was released Tuesday, and the Bruins have seven home games, five away games and a bye week in between their two-game away stretch. UCLA also will not play Indiana, Ohio State, Washington or Penn State in Bob Chesney’s first year at the helm. Daily Bruin Sports editor Connor Dullinger breaks down the slate and gives his prediction on each contest.

Sept. 5 at California
2025 record: 7-6, 4-4 ACC
Best offseason move: Hiring head coach Tosh Lupoi
Score prediction: 34-24 L

The 2026 Bruins are not the team they were a season ago. But neither are the Golden Bears. California hired alumnus Tosh Lupoi – a former Oregon and Alabama defensive coordinator – as its new head honcho in early December. Lupoi was one of my favorite options in the collegiate coaching carousel and one of my favorites for UCLA’s opening. Lupoi’s first transfer portal class ranked No. 14 in the nation and No. 2 in the ACC, according to 247 Sports. Headlining the Golden Bears’ additions are former New Mexico tight end Dorian Thomas and former Washington running back Adam Mohammed. Thomas was the No. 6 tight end in the portal after hauling in 560 yards and four touchdowns last season. Mohammed was the No. 6 running back in the portal after rushing for 523 yards and five touchdowns as a backup to Jonah Coleman at Washington.

[Related: Dully’s Drop: Breaking down top contenders for UCLA football’s next head honcho]

Sept. 12 vs. San Diego State
2025 record: 9-4, 6-2 Mountain West
Best offseason move: Retaining head coach Sean Lewis
Score prediction: 35-17 W

While UCLA will likely battle and ultimately fall to Cal in Berkeley, the Bruins should return with a triumphant victory over the Aztecs in their first home game of the 2026 campaign. San Diego State has improved tremendously under the tutelage of coach Sean Lewis but should stumble against UCLA, given the Aztecs’ starting quarterback Jayden Denegal threw just nine touchdowns and eight interceptions last season and the Bruins’ new secondary includes lethal transfer portal additions.

Sept. 19 vs. Purdue
2025 record: 2-10, 0-9 Big Ten
Best offseason move: Signing Georgia edge Elo Modozie
Score prediction: 42-14 W

Barry Odom ushered in a rebuild when he took over last season in West Lafayette, Indiana. The Boilermakers won just two games last season, and while they have seen improvement under their new head honcho, the transition is far from over. The Chesney train should steamroll the Boilermakers at UCLA’s home, building a 2-1 record before its first road trip away from the West Coast. Purdue has fortified its defense, adding former Georgia edge linebacker Elo Modozie – who notched 6.5 sacks in 2024 – but as a collective, the team lacks the offensive firepower to battle UCLA.

Sept. 26 at Maryland
2025 record: 4-8, 1-8 Big Ten
Best offseason move: Retaining quarterback Malik Washington
Score prediction: 21-17 W

The 2025 showdown between Maryland and UCLA was made for a movie theater. Turnovers, pick sixes and a game-winning drive led by redshirt sophomore quarterback Nico Iamaleava and clinched by junior kicker Mateen Bhaghani gave the Bruins a Rose Bowl victory. And I think fans will see something similar on the East Coast in late September. Quarterback Malik Washington was one of the best true freshmen in the country this past season and should only improve with a full year under his belt. Expect a signal-caller battle between Washington and Iamaleava that should favor the latter, backed by a stronger overall roster.

[Related: UCLA football clinches win over Maryland as Iamaleava leads final-minute charge]

Oct. 10 at Oregon
2025 record: 13-2, 8-1 Big Ten
Best offseason move: Retaining quarterback Dante Moore, who forwent entering the NFL Draft
Score prediction: 41-27 L

UCLA should be much improved from its 2025 campaign – there is no doubt about that. However, I do not think it has what it takes to walk into Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon, and come out victorious. Quarterback Dante Moore – a former UCLA starter – will be one of, if not the best, signal-callers in the country after deciding to return to the Ducks despite being a projected top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Oregon coach Dan Lanning is one of the greatest coaches in college football and has built an elite roster. Regardless of what UCLA has done to revolutionize its program, it does not have what it takes to battle Oregon.

Oct. 17 vs. Wisconsin
2025 record: 4-8, 2-7 Big Ten
Best offseason move: Signing Old Dominion quarterback Colton Joseph
Score prediction: 27-14 W

UCLA has a relatively weak Big Ten schedule in 2026, with Purdue, Michigan State, Minnesota and Wisconsin headlining that slate. The Badgers’ offense was one of the worst in the nation last season, and I don’t believe the acquisition of quarterback Colton Joseph can remedy all of the team’s problems. Wisconsin should give UCLA the opportunity to be undefeated at home – and if the Bruins fall, it would go down as a disappointment for Chesney’s first year in Westwood.

Oct. 24 vs. Michigan State
2025 record: 4-8, 1-8 Big Ten
Best offseason move: Hiring head coach Pat Fitzgerald
Score prediction: 34-10 W

UCLA walked into Spartan Stadium and decimated Michigan State in East Lansing, Michigan, last season. And while the Bruins’ 2026 roster should be significantly improved from last season, the Spartans are amid a coaching change, bringing in Pat Fitzgerald, and face instability under center after losing quarterback Aidan Chiles and promoting former backup and likely starter Alessio Milivojevic. UCLA should rebound after its Oregon loss with back-to-back conference victories.

[Related: UCLA football garners another win in 38-13 game against Michigan State]

Oct. 31 vs. Nevada
2025 record: 3-9, 2-6 Mountain West
Best offseason move: Hiring Colorado wide receivers coach Brett Bartolone as offensive coordinator
Score prediction: 31-17 W

And UCLA’s battle with Nevada should make it three in a row. Former Bruin quarterback Luke Duncan should headline the Wolf Pack after starting against then-No. 1 Ohio State for UCLA this past season. Duncan is no proven starter, and while he boasts familiarity against the UCLA defense, he lacks the supporting cast he needs to muster a fight against the Bruin squad. The Bruins should have a field day in an unusual late-October nonconference matchup.

Nov. 7 at Minnesota
2025 record: 8-5, 5-4 Big Ten
Best offseason move: Retaining running back Darius Taylor
Score prediction: 24-20 W

Call it crazy, call it stupid, call it hopeful. I would say it’s likely. UCLA will leave Minnesota riding a four-game win streak into its penultimate home game. Minnesota did little in the transfer portal period, and the loss of its star safety and former Freshman All-American Koi Perich to Oregon will leave Gopher fans little to rally around. The Bruins traveling north could give them trouble, but good teams win games they should on the road, and I think the 2026 Bruins will be a good, maybe even great, team. Given Minnesota’s usual defensive tenacity, I can see the battle being a shootout in a cold November affair, but I have UCLA leaving victorious.

Nov. 14 vs. Illinois
2025 record: 9-4, 5-4 Big Ten
Best offseason move: Adding East Carolina quarterback Katin Houser
Score prediction: 34-31 W

I think this game could go either way. Illinois could come to the West Coast and make it a nail-biter, or it could very well be an emphatic Bruin triumph. The loss of former Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer leads me to pick UCLA to win what I believe will be a chaotic and offensive battle. However, Illinois added former East Carolina signal-caller Katin Houser to replace Altmyer. While fans have yet to see if Houser’s game translates to Power Four play, Houser garnered 3,300 passing yards and 19 touchdowns last season.

Nov. 21 at Michigan
2025 record: 9-4, 7-2 Big Ten
Best offseason move: Retaining quarterback Bryce Underwood
Score prediction: 24-14 L

UCLA will make its inaugural trip to the Big House and face Michigan for the first time since officially joining the Big Ten. Quarterback Bryce Underwood was the top-ranked recruit coming out of high school, and although he struggled in his first season in Ann Arbor, Michigan, he showed flashes of the signal-caller he could become. With a full season under his belt, Underwood will terrorize the Bruin defense in a cold, late-November game at one of the most adversarial stadiums in sports.

Nov. 28 vs. USC
2025 record: 9-4, 7-2 Big Ten
Best offseason move: Signing the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation and retaining quarterback Jayden Maiava, who forwent entering the NFL Draft
Score prediction: 38-31 L

2026 could mark a program turnaround in Westwood. But Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither will UCLA’s football team be. USC retained one of the best signal-callers in the nation in Jayden Maiava and fortified its roster with impactful transfers and the top-ranked recruiting class. Home-field advantage at the Rose Bowl could give UCLA its fairy-tale ending of a season, but I don’t see a miracle unfolding in the last game of the season.