UCLA and California to meet in 2026 Victory Bell Rivalry

college football Victory Bell Rivalry UCLA Bruins California Golden Bears NCAA

The UCLA Bruins and California Golden Bears will face off in the Victory Bell Rivalry on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley. This matchup serves as a non-conference season opener for both programs and marks their first meeting since 2023. Notably, the teams will compete as members of different conferences, with UCLA in the Big Ten and Cal in the ACC.

The night game is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN. Both programs enter the contest under new leadership; UCLA is led by head coach Bob Chesney, while Cal is led by Tosh Lupoi.

Betting analysts suggest a closely contested game, with UCLA listed as a slight favorite in the spread. Statistical data from the previous season shows UCLA struggling offensively, ranking 120th in FBS yards per game, while Cal's offense ranked 89th.

Entities

Bob Chesney · California Golden Bears · ESPN · Tosh Lupoi · UCLA

Sources

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