The Associated Press released their Preseason Top-25 2026 NCAA Football poll on Monday and six of the UCLA Bruins opponents this season received votes.
UCLA was not recognized by the Associated Press, despite the Bruins consistent hype filling the team thanks to it now being under the command of head coach Bob Chesney— whose former team, the James Madison Dukes, received three votes. However, Chesney and his crew in Inglewood will have a chance to prove they belong as they face the California Golden Bears, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Illinois Fighting Illini, USC Trojans, Oregon Ducks and Michigan Wolverines— all of whom acquired votes.
UCLA will start their season against California on Sep. 5 this season and fortunately for them, it will be their chance to demonstrate the new-look Bruins against a decent opponent. The Golden Bears appear unranked in Monday's poll, but they got two votes by the Associated Press.
Their next preseason ranked opponent would be a few weeks later on Oct. 10 against the No. 2 Oregon Ducks. Not only is this UCLA's highest ranked opponent, but it would by Chesney's chance at avenging his Dukes, who fell to the Ducks during last season's College Football Playoffs.
A little less than a month later, UCLA will take on four Big Ten opponents that all received multiple votes and starting off with the unranked Minnesota Golden Gophers. Minnesota had five votes and would be a nice opener on Nov. 7 to begin the gauntlet.
Illinois received nine votes and the Bruins would play their unranked opponent on six days later on Friday, Nov. 13.
UCLA will end their season with the No. 16 Michigan Wolverines on Nov. 21, followed by their crosstown rivalry match on Nov. 28 against the No. 14 USC Trojans.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA plays six opponents with preseason votes in AP's latest poll