There’s a lot of positive momentum surrounding the UCLA Bruins football program. New head coach Bob Chesney is transforming the team, having brought in dozens of new transfers and is hoping it’ll lead to better results for the Bruins.
UCLA is fresh off of a 3-9 season but with Chesney in the fold, along with the talent he’s brought in, the Bruins doubling their win total is a legit possibility for UCLA in 2026. The one thing that might deter the Bruins from reaching six wins is the talented Big Ten Conference, with three different Big Ten schools winning the past three national titles.
After seeing James Madison reach the College Football Playoffs in 2025, the Bruins brought over a lot of JMU players. But will those fresh faces be enough for UCLA to climb up the Big Ten standings?
ESPN advanced stats guru Bill Connelly released his preseason SP+, which still has the Bruins in the bottom half of the Big Ten even after all of their additions.
Isaiah Hole of Wolverines Wire ranked all 18 of the Big Ten teams, with UCLA coming in at No. 12. UCLA has an overall score of 46, with their offense at 52, defense at 54 and special teams at 71.
“Another team with a ton of returning experience, and a new coaching staff led by Bob Chesney, there’s a lot to like about the Bruins this season, especially if Chesney can get the most out of Nico Iamaleava,” Hole wrote. “UCLA has tended to oscillate from really good to really bad, with little in between, but the last time it was really good was in the Pac-12, and not in the Big Ten.”
UCLA would be happy to escape the bottom of the Big Ten but Chesney and the Bruins are aiming even higher than becoming the No. 12 team in the conference.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA football ranked No. 12 in the Big Ten in ESPN’s SP+ rankings
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
