As UCLA football enters its first year under coach Bob Chesney and third season in the Big Ten, Daily Bruin Sports will preview the personnel of each of the Bruins’ position groups and predict their 2026 outlook prior to the season’s official start Sept.

UCLA football begins its 2026 season Sept. 5 against California away at California Memorial Stadium. After a disparaging 3-9 campaign last year, the Bruins begin a new era under coach Bob Chesney, with both former conference rivals seeing major roster turnover and staff changes during the offseason.

There may never have been a more confusing time to be a college football fan.
Just two days after UCLA football’s newest member – fifth-year linebacker Trent Hendrick – transferred to the program after receiving a temporary restraining order from a Louisiana court, granting him and several other athletes a fifth year of eligibility, the Big Ten became the first FBS conference to pass a rule that bans NFL players from returning to play in the conference.

The Chesney train is still taking passengers.
Former James Madison linebacker Trent Hendrick transferred to UCLA on Sunday, according to On3. Hendrick received a temporary restraining order as part of a larger lawsuit in Louisiana against the NCAA, which 16 football players – including former UCLA running back TJ Harden – filed among 33 total athletes.

This post was updated Aug. 23 at 8:37 p.m.
UCLA’s former starting backcourt is moving cross-country.
Former Bruin Donovan Dent announced Friday on Instagram that he will transfer to LSU after spending his senior season in Westwood.

This post was updated Aug. 23 at 9:31 p.m.
UCLA men’s water polo begins its 2026 season Aug. 29 at the Triton Invitational in La Jolla.

It’s time to board the Chesney train.
UCLA football, the Westwood faithful and the media have echoed that sentiment for nearly nine months now.
It’s not hard to understand why: Labeling the Bruins’ 2025 season a disaster might even be sugarcoating it.

UCLA is set to enter its third season in the Big Ten, following a sophomore campaign in which the program captured three NCAA championships – the most of any other Big Ten school.

Skyy Clark is back in the NCAA.
The former UCLA guard announced his commitment to LSU on Wednesday, less than two weeks after Colorado federal Judge Charlotte Sweeney granted a preliminary injunction that provided college athletes from the 2022 recruiting class an additional year of eligibility – in line with the NCAA’s new age-based policies that provide five years for athletes.

Westwood’s quarterback room just got deeper.
UCLA football added former NFL play-caller Derek Carr to its offensive coaching staff Monday. Carr will serve as a volunteer special advisor to head coach Bob Chesney, assisting with game planning and working with the Bruins’ quarterbacks.