The 2026 UCLA Bruins football team will represent the University of California, Los Angeles as a member of the Big Ten Conference (B1G) during the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season.[2] They will be led by first-year head coach Bob Chesney, and play their home games at Rose Bowl located in Pasadena, California.[3] It will be the Bruins' 107th season overall and 3rd as a member of the Big Ten.[4]
Offseason
Positions key
| Offense |
Defense |
Special teams
|
|
|
|
|
- ^ Sometimes referred to as an edge rusher (EDGE)
- ^ Includes nose tackle (NT)
- ^ Includes middle linebacker (MLB or MIKE), outside linebacker (OLB, WILL, SAM), and off-ball linebacker
- ^ Includes free safety (FS) and strong safety (SS)
- ^ Also known as a placekicker (PK)
- ^ Includes kickoff and punt returners
|
Departures
NFL draft
| Name
|
Pos.
|
Team
|
Round
|
Pick
|
|
|
Outgoing transfers
| Name
|
No.
|
Pos.
|
Height
|
Weight
|
Year
|
Hometown
|
New school
|
| Kanye Clark |
1 |
DL |
6'0" |
190 |
FR |
Sacramento, CA |
Florida
|
| Rico Flores Jr. |
1 |
WR |
6'2" |
205 |
SO |
North Highlands, CA |
Virginia
|
| Andre Jordan Jr. |
2 |
DB |
6'1" |
175 |
JR |
Federal Way, WA |
Auburn
|
| Kwazi Gilmer |
3 |
WR |
6'2" |
190 |
SO |
Los Angeles, CA |
Nebraska
|
| Ezavier Staples |
4 |
WR |
6'4" |
205 |
SR |
Long Beach, CA |
|
| Ben Perry |
10 |
LB |
6'3" |
210 |
Sr |
Chicago, IL |
Louisville
|
| Jaedon Wilson |
11 |
WR |
6'3" |
185 |
SR |
Desoto, TX |
|
| Jamir Benjamin |
12 |
DB |
5'10" |
185 |
FR |
Lansing, MI |
Rice
|
| Luke Duncan |
12 |
QB |
6'6" |
210 |
SO |
Orinda, CA |
Nevada
|
| Carter Shaw |
14 |
WR |
6'3" |
195 |
SO |
Atherton, CA |
Stanford
|
| Anthony Jones |
15 |
DL |
6'5" |
265 |
JR |
Las Vegas, NV |
Nebraska
|
| Henry Hasselbeck |
18 |
QB |
6'3" |
180 |
FR |
Weston, MA |
Appalachian State
|
| Jadyn Marshall |
18 |
DB |
6'1" |
200 |
JR |
Stockton, CA |
|
| Jamier Johnson |
19 |
DB |
6'0" |
190 |
SR |
Pasadena, CA |
|
| Croix Stewart |
22 |
DB |
6'2" |
205 |
JR |
Vallejo, CA |
Fresno State
|
| Bryon Threats |
23 |
DB |
5'10" |
185 |
SR |
Byron, GA |
|
| Scooter Jackson |
28 |
DB |
6'1" |
185 |
JR |
Compton, CA |
Withdrew/returning to UCLA
|
| Jack Pedersen |
28 |
TE |
6'5" |
240 |
JR |
Murrieta, CA |
Washington State
|
| Isaiah Chisom |
32 |
LB |
6'1" |
235 |
SO |
Santa Clarita, CA |
Oklahoma State
|
| Morrow Evans |
41 |
LS |
6'1" |
220 |
FR |
Houston, TX |
|
| Will Karol |
49 |
P |
6'4" |
210 |
JR |
Mosman, NSW |
Texas Tech
|
| Garrison Blank |
54 |
OL |
6'7" |
330 |
FR |
Rocklin, CA |
Sacramento State
|
| A.J. Fuimaono |
55 |
DL |
6'4" |
311 |
SO |
Las Vegas, NV |
Withdrew/returning to UCLA
|
| Oluwafunto Akinshilo |
69 |
OL |
6'5" |
325 |
SR |
Lagos, Nigeria |
Syracuse
|
| Siale Taupaki |
92 |
DL |
6'4" |
335 |
JR |
Oakland, CA |
Penn State
|
| Mateen Bhaghani |
94 |
PK |
6'1" |
175 |
JR |
San Diego, CA |
Withdrew/returning to UCLA
|
| Keanu Williams |
99 |
DL |
6'5" |
320 |
SR |
Clovis, CA |
Penn State
|
Retirements
Coaching departures
Acquisitions
Incoming transfers
| Name
|
No.
|
Pos.
|
Height
|
Weight
|
Year
|
Hometown
|
Prev. school
|
|
|
Recruiting class
| College recruiting information (2026)
|
| Name
|
Hometown
|
School
|
Height
|
Weight
|
Commit date
|
| Overall recruit ranking:
|
- Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
- In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.
Sources:
|
New walk-ons
Coaches acquisitions
| Name
|
Previous Position
|
New Position
|
| Drew Canan
|
JMU - Special teams coordinator and tight ends coach
|
UCLA - Special teams coordinator and tight ends coach
|
| Bob Chesney
|
JMU - Head coach
|
UCLA - Head coach
|
| Sam Daniels
|
JMU - Defensive line coach
|
UCLA - Defensive ends coach
|
| Anthony DiMichele
|
JMU - Safeties coach
|
UCLA - Safeties coach
|
| Colin Hitschler
|
JMU - Defensive coordinator
|
UCLA - Defensive coordinator
|
| Dean Kennedy
|
JMU - Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach
|
UCLA - Offensive coordinator
|
| Colin Lockett
|
New Mexico - Wide receivers coach
|
UCLA - Wide receivers coach
|
| Chris Smith
|
JMU - Offensive line coach and run game coordinator
|
UCLA - Offensive line coach and run game coordinator
|
| Vic So'oto
|
Cal - Linebackers coach
|
UCLA - Linebackers coach
|
| Legi Suiaunoa
|
Michigan State - Defensive line coach
|
UCLA - Defensive line coach
|
| Eddie Whitley Jr.
|
JMU - Cornerbacks coach
|
UCLA - Defensive backs coach
|
Preseason
NFL Combine
Spring game
Schedule
Game summaries
San Diego State
vs Nevada
at Maryland
at Michigan
at Minnesota
at Minnesota
at Oregon
vs Illinois
vs Michigan State
vs Purdue
vs Wisconsin
Personnel
Roster
| 2026 UCLA Bruins football team roster
|
| Players
|
Coaches
|
| Offense
|
Defense
|
Special teams
|
- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Colin Hitschler – Defensive coordinator
- Dean Kennedy – Offensive coordinator
- Drew Canan – Special teams coordinator/tight ends
- Chris Smith – Offensive line/run game coordinator
- Colin Lockett – Wide receivers
- A.J. Steward – Running backs
- Vic So'oto – Linebackers
- Legi Suiaunoa – Defensive line
- Anthony DiMichele – Safeties
- Eddie Whitley Jr. – Defensive backs
- Sam Daniels – Defensive ends
- Gabe Lynn – Nickels
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
 Injured Redshirt
Roster
Last update: January 21, 2026
|
Statistics
Team
|
UCLA |
Opp
|
| Points per game |
|
|
| Total |
|
|
| First downs |
|
|
| Rushing |
|
|
| Passing |
|
|
| Penalty |
|
|
| Rushing yards |
|
|
| Avg per rush |
|
|
| Avg per game |
|
|
| Rushing touchdowns |
|
|
| Passing yards |
|
|
| Att-Comp-Int |
|
|
| Avg per pass |
|
|
| Avg per game |
|
|
| Passing touchdowns |
|
|
| Total offense |
|
|
| Avg per play |
|
|
| Avg per game |
|
|
| Fumbles-Lost |
|
|
| Penalties-Yards |
|
|
| Avg per game |
|
|
| Punts-Yards |
|
|
| Avg per punt |
|
|
| Time of possession/Game |
|
|
| 3rd down conversions |
|
|
| 3rd Down Pct.
|
|
|
| 4th down conversions |
|
|
| 4th Down Pct.
|
|
|
| Sacks-Yards |
|
|
| Touchdowns scored |
|
|
| Field goals-Attempts |
|
|
| PAT-Attempts |
|
|
|
Individual leaders
Offense
| Passing statistics
|
| # |
NAME |
POS |
RAT |
CMP |
ATT |
YDS |
AVG/G |
CMP% |
TD |
INT |
LONG
|
| Rushing statistics
|
| # |
NAME |
POS |
ATT |
GAIN |
AVG |
TD |
LONG |
AVG/G
|
| Receiving statistics
|
| # |
NAME |
POS |
CTH |
YDS |
AVG |
TD |
LONG |
AVG/G
|
Defense
Key: POS: Position, SOLO: Solo Tackles, AST: Assisted Tackles, TOT: Total Tackles, TFL: Tackles-for-loss, SACK: Quarterback Sacks, INT: Interceptions, BU: Passes Broken Up, PD: Passes Defended, QBH: Quarterback Hits, FR: Fumbles Recovered, FF: Forced Fumbles, BLK: Kicks or Punts Blocked, SAF: Safeties, TD : Touchdown
Special teams
| Kickoff statistics
|
| # |
NAME |
POS |
KICKS |
YDS |
AVG |
TB |
OB
|
| Punting statistics
|
| # |
NAME |
POS |
PUNTS |
YDS |
AVG |
LONG |
TB |
FC |
I–20 |
50+ |
BLK
|
| Kick return statistics
|
| # |
NAME |
POS |
RTNS |
YDS |
AVG |
TD |
LNG
|
| Punt return statistics
|
| # |
NAME |
POS |
RTNS |
YDS |
AVG |
TD |
LONG
|
Scoring
UCLA vs. non-conference opponents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
| UCLA
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0 |
0 |
| Opponents
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0 |
0 |
|
UCLA vs. Big Ten opponents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
| UCLA
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0 |
0 |
| Opponents
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0 |
0 |
|
UCLA vs. all opponents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
| UCLA
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0 |
0 |
| Opponents
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0 |
0 |
|
Rankings
Ranking movements | Week |
|---|
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
|---|
| AP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|
| Coaches | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|
| CFP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Not released |
|---|
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h UCLA currently has a lease until 2043 at the Rose Bowl, however, there are credible reports that they are expected to move their home games to SoFi Stadium from 2026 onwards.[1] It is unclear at this stage where the Bruins will play.
References
|
|---|
| Venues | |
|---|
| Bowls and rivalries | |
|---|
| Culture and lore | |
|---|
| People | |
|---|
| Seasons | |
|---|
National championship seasons in bold |
