Big Ten · 2026

UCLA

2025 record 3–9 3–6 conference
Postseason No bowl
Head coach Bob Chesney Year 1
Scheme Spread / 4-3
Conference
C−

Iamaleava retention + Knight splash off 3–9; Chesney Y1, thin overall recruiting, and an early chart cap Team and Depth

Portal
B

Portal #6 (volume, 41 commits) without a matching overall recruiting lift

Depth
D+

Early chart + massive roster churn

Market odds

To Win Big Ten
Yes 0.00%
No 0.00%
To Make Conf. Championship
Yes 0.00%
No 0.00%
Over 6.5 wins
Yes 0.00%
No 0.00%

Recruiting ranks

Overall #12 61 commits · 231.37 pts
Portal #6 41 commits· avg 86.17

Roster notes

Leading story

Chesney Year 1 after DeShaun Foster was fired (Sep 2025; Tim Skipper interim)

Offense

Nico Iamaleava retained as listed QB1 over Madden Iamaleava. RB Wayne Knight; WR Leland Smith / Landon Ellis / Mikey Matthews; TE Joshua Phifer. OL and defense are nearly all portal-built on the early chart

Key offense

  1. 01
    Nico Iamaleava QB
    Returning
    • 2025: 208/323, 1,928 yds, 13 TD, 7 INT
    • 505 rush yds / 4 TD
  2. 02
    Wayne Knight RB
    Portal
    • 2025 (incl. bowl): 207 carries, 1,373 yds, 9 rushing TD
    • 40 receptions, 397 yds, 1 TD
  3. 03
    Landon Ellis WR
    Portal
    • 2025 (incl. bowl): 36 receptions, 624 yds, 5 TD

Key defense

  1. 01
    Sahir West DE
    Portal
    • 2025 (incl. bowl): 45 tackles, 7.0 sacks, 4 PD
  2. 02
    DJ Barksdale NB
    Portal
    • 2025 (incl. bowl): 36 tackles, 2 INT, 12 PD
  3. 03
    Tao Johnson S
    Portal
    • 2025 (incl. bowl): 51 tackles, 2 INT, 4 PD