Dante Moore and Kyle Whittingham Are Coming For UCLA, And Coach Chesney Has No Easy Answers For 2026

Alright, Seattle, buckle up! You know we're always scouting the national scene, and let me tell you, UCLA's 2026 football schedule just dropped with a ranking from 247 Sports' Mike Regalado, and it's a straight-up gauntlet. New head coach Bob Chesney is stepping into a firestorm in Westwood after their 3-9 season last year. Remember how they had to battle the national champion Indiana Hoosiers and the reigning national champ Ohio State Buckeyes? Yeah, well, it doesn't get easier. We're talking about facing the Oregon Ducks and the 2023 national champion Michigan Wolverines. That's a brutal welcome for any new coach, let alone one trying to turn things around!

The Big Ten Nightmare Is Real

Regalado's breakdown points out that UCLA's top five hardest matchups are all Big Ten Conference foes, and honestly, you can see why. Let's start with the absolute toughest: road games against Oregon and Michigan. Seriously? Number one on the list is a road game against Oregon on November 10th. Why is it so brutal? UCLA has to stare down their former quarterback, Dante Moore, who's out there trying to lead the Ducks to their first-ever national title. Talk about a narrative. And just before that, on November 21st, they hit the road against Michigan. What makes that one sting even more? Michigan's new head coach, Kyle Whittingham, is the guy who absolutely blew out the Bruins last year when he was coaching Utah. You know that's still fresh in their minds. Then you've got the rival USC game at home on November 28th, ranked number three. The Bruins have dropped their last two against the Trojans, so Chesney needs to make a statement there. Plus, a home game against Illinoi

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s on November 14th, which marks the first time Illinois has visited the West Coast since they beat UCLA in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl back in 2011. Even a road trip to Minnesota on November 7th is a tough ask, as UCLA is still hunting for their first win against the Golden Gophers since way back in 1978. This schedule is relentless, man.

Don't Sleep On The So-Called "Easier" Games

It's not just the top-tier Big Ten monsters, either. Regalado's rankings show that even their "easiest" games have a bite. The season opener on September 5th is a road game against Cal, an exciting in-state matchup featuring two first-year head coaches. Then there's the home game against Wisconsin on October 17th, their first meeting since the Badgers snagged a 21-20 Sun Bowl win in 2000. And a road game against Maryland on September 26th? UCLA barely squeaked by with a 20-17 win in 2025 in their first matchup since 1955. Even the games at the bottom of the difficulty list are tricky. Nevada, their home opponent on October 31st, is also coming off a 3-9 season, and after UCLA's struggles against non-conference opponents in 2025, that's a straight-up must-win. Their "most favorable" Big Ten matchup is at home against Purdue on September 19th, their first conference game. And don't forget San Diego State coming to the Rose Bowl on September 12th; the Aztecs will be looking for an upset. This isn't a schedule where you can afford to overlook anyone. So, what's next? Coach Chesney has his work cut out for him, big time. This 2026 season for UCLA is going to be a true test of grit and whether he can build something special, fast. With Michigan and Oregon looming, and a host of other tough opponents, it’s going to be wild to see how this team responds. You know we'll be watching every snap!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.