There hasn’t been this much excitement about a new UCLA football coach … ever?
Consider the sad history of the school’s hires.
DeShaun Foster was a curious choice.
Chip Kelly was well into his decline.
Jim Mora and Rick Neuheisel were retreads.
Karl Dorrell was Plan D … dull.
Bob Toledo was an offensive coordinator who happened to be in the right spot.
Terry Donahue was an alumnus with no head coaching experience.
Pepper Rodgers came from Kansas, not exactly a college football powerhouse.
Dick Vermeil’s most recent head coaching job came at Napa Valley College.
One must go all the way back to Tommy Prothro, who had guided Oregon State to multiple Rose Bowls when he returned to UCLA in 1965, to find a new Bruins coach with buzz approaching that of the excitement surrounding Bob Chesney.
Chesney has made UCLA a fashionable pick to become the Big Ten’s most improved team in Year 1 after taking James Madison to the College Football Playoff in 2025.
While season prognosticators are as foolhardy as daily lottery players, it’s no stretch to envision Chesney winning big immediately. Here’s a game-by-game prediction for the Bruins:
at California, Sept. 5
Which new coach will instantly energize his fan base?
Cal’s Tosh Lupoi sprouted from the Dan Lanning coaching tree after a successful stint as Oregon’s defensive coordinator but has never been a head coach at any level.
The return of quarterback Jaron Keawe-Sagapolutele gives Lupoi a nice starting point, but questions abound on a defense that might make the new coach wish he was back with the Ducks. Prediction: Win, 1-0.
San Diego State, Sept. 12
How crazy is it that this will be a nonconference game for UCLA against a team from the Pac-12? That’s the absurdity of college football in 2026.
The Aztecs were formidable in only their second season under coach Sean Lewis — who was believed to be a Plan B if the Bruins couldn’t snag Chesney — by going 9-4 in 2025. But the sad truth is they’re 1-22-1 all time in their series with the Bruins. (Thanks, Chip Kelly, for the one UCLA loss!)
This should be more of the typical Bruins dominance. Prediction: Win, 2-0.
Purdue, Sept. 19
Poor Barry Odom. His offense was awful in his debut season, and his defense was worse.
The Boilermakers haven’t won a Big Ten game since 2023, dropping 18 straight. Even if they’re significantly better than last season, it won’t be nearly enough to beat the Bruins on the road. Prediction: Win, 3-0.
at Maryland, Sept. 26
Does anyone foresee UCLA-Maryland becoming a compelling rivalry?
Me neither.
The Terrapins have been terrible in back-to-back seasons under the grandfatherly Mike Locksley, whose time on campus may be up if his team isn’t considerably improved in 2026. That seems unlikely. Prediction: Win, 4-0.
at Oregon, Oct. 10
UCLA’s early-season joy ride will end in emphatic fashion at Autzen Stadium, where Chesney’s final James Madison team was knocked out of the CFP last December.
There’s widespread belief that the Ducks have the most talent of any team in the nation, starting with quarterback Dante Moore. The onetime Bruin will be motivated to pummel the team that benched him midway through a frustrating freshman season. Prediction: Loss, 4-1.
Wisconsin, Oct. 17
Longtime UCLA fans will forever cringe at the mention of Barry Alvarez and Ron Dayne given what those Badgers of yore did to their beloved Bruins.
Wisconsin hasn’t been nearly as formidable under coach Luke Fickell, who seemed like the perfect fit when he arrived from Cincinnati. His 17-21 record has made this a do-or-die season, and the Badgers don’t seem equipped to do much. Prediction: Win, 5-1.
Michigan State, Oct. 24
New coach Pat Fitzgerald worked some serious magic at Northwestern before being brought down by a hazing scandal for which he was later largely vindicated.
Now he inherits another mess after replacing Jonathan Smith, and an immediate turnaround seems unlikely given the lack of talent on the roster. Prediction: Win, 6-1.
Nevada, Oct. 31
UCLA students should dress up as former Bruins and current Wolf Pack basketball coach Steve Alford for this Halloween game, which would add some intrigue to an evening that otherwise figures to lack for drama. Prediction: Win, 7-1.
at Minnesota, Nov. 7
P.J. Fleck, a candidate for the UCLA job when it went to Foster, will have extra incentive to win this game — especially if the Bruins come in nationally ranked.
Having quarterback Drake Lindsey among a bevy of returning starters could make the Golden Gophers a dark horse contender in the Big Ten. Prediction: Loss, 7-2.
Illinois, Nov. 13
Even though the Illini are coming off 10-3 and 9-4 seasons under Bret Bielema, heavy turnover makes another strong finish unlikely.
While transfer quarterback Katin Houser showed significant promise the last two seasons at East Carolina, too much of the offense is in flux. Prediction: Win, 8-2.
at Michigan, Nov. 21
Known for doing more with less at Utah, Kyle Whittingham now has access to a significantly stronger talent pipeline.
Quarterback Bryce Underwood will benefit from having four starting offensive linemen back, not to mention star running back Jordan Marshall. Whittingham’s dominance of the Bruins will continue for another year. Prediction: Loss, 8-3.
USC, Nov. 28
Chesney didn’t shy away from predicting success in the crosstown rivalry, saying UCLA would be the team in LA “in the very, very near future.”
That time will come Thanksgiving week. With a rollicking Rose Bowl crowd buzzing after UCLA takes an early lead, the Bruins hold on for a memorable upset to knock the Trojans out of CFP contention. Prediction: Win, 9-3.
Alamo Bowl vs. BYU, Dec. 29
Kalani Sitake has had the Cougars on the brink of the CFP in each of the last two seasons, and this one will be no different.
After ultimately falling short, BYU finds some solace in a tightly contested game against the Bruins, who nevertheless will feel more than satisfied with their first season under Chesney. Prediction: Loss, 9-4.
