As UCLA football enters its first year under coach Bob Chesney and third season in the Big Ten, Daily Bruin Sports will preview the personnel of each of the Bruins’ position groups and predict their 2026 outlooks prior to the season’s official start on Sept.

This post was updated May 7 at 10:16 p.m.
Across the gridiron, a one-on-one competition takes place that can determine the success or failure of each play.

This post was updated April 16 at 11:53 p.m.
When all else fails defensively, there is one position group that can be the difference between a touchdown and a stop: the safeties.

This post was updated March 29 at 10:19 p.m.
Few positions are more under appreciated than tight end.
Effective tight ends can elevate an offense.
UCLA football head coach Bob Chesney brought in four tight ends to compete for playing time and develop under position coach Drew Canan ahead of the 2026 offseason.

Some find the phrase “defense wins championships” a valid philosophy for building a team.
But without a viable offense, winning a single game, let alone a championship, becomes a significantly more difficult feat.

Bouncing back can be difficult.
And rebounding against a field that features four of the nation’s top 10 squads can truly test what a team is made of.

Linebackers that boast the ability to both play the run while also maintaining coverage responsibilities in the passing game can be the difference between victory and defeat.

Capturing a team win after a nearly year-long drought can be a massive confidence booster for a squad.
But remaining focused and building on the momentum from a previous outing is a challenge that truly tests a team’s resolve.

With players such as Jackie Robinson, DeShaun Foster, Maurice Jones-Drew, Jonathan Franklin and Zach Charbonnet all calling Westwood home, the Bruins have long been touted as a producer of elite running backs.

This post was updated Feb. 3 at 9:50 p.m.
Football games are won and lost at the line of scrimmage. Representing the first point of contact, having a plethora of capable linemen is imperative for building a winning program.