Why College Football Playoff Appearance Not Far-fetched For Bruins

UCLA now has a squad that could easy make nan assemblage shot playoff twelvemonth 1 nether Bob Chesney.

A vessel crippled is beautiful overmuch a fastener for UCLA heading into 2026, pinch a soft Big Ten schedule connected nan horizon. However, UCLA could very overmuch frighten a assemblage shot playoff spot if they triumph nan games that matter.

Promising Schedule

Mentioned earlier UCLA will without a uncertainty make a vessel game. While nan roster they built is tin of it anyways, a monolithic driver is their soft non-conference schedule (Cal, Nevada, and San Diego St). Taking a look astatine their convention they should triumph against Purdue, Michigan St, and Minnesota.

If nan Bruins are capable to propulsion retired wins successful those games, which they should, they will beryllium astatine nan magic number of six, clinching a spot successful a vessel game. Furthermore, UCLA should beryllium capable to prime up wins against Maryland, Wisconsin, and astir apt Illinois if UCLA is rolling pinch momentum connected its side.

UCLA should beryllium capable to travel retired of this agelong pinch astatine slightest 7-9 wins. The adjacent 3 games should beryllium signficantly much challenging for UCLA, arsenic they will look Oregon, Michigan, and USC. These 3 games could beryllium toss-up, pinch UCLA entering arsenic nan underdogs, unless they beryllium otherwise.

The games listed are not successful order, alternatively conscionable their 2026 opponents.

Expectations

From their 2026 opponnets location is simply nary logic why UCLA will beryllium incapable to suffice for a vessel game, on pinch a fewer other wins connected apical of that. Realistically looking astatine nan schedule astatine worst UCLA should beryllium capable to spell 8-4, pinch losses to Michigan, USC, Oregon, and Illinois.

Again this is wholly contingent connected really these crippled are dispersed out, for illustration UCLA could driblet a crippled to Illinois but prime up a batch of steam down nan agelong and return down Michigan aliases USC. If this is nan lawsuit UCLA should person nary rumor going 10-2 pinch losses to USC an Oregon.

Path to nan Playoffs

UCLA could very easy spot itself make nan playoffs pinch this schedule. While Indiana and Ohio State will look bully successful 2026, UCLA will not person to play them. Another portion of bully news is that some teams will look off, meaning 1 of them will locomotion distant pinch a loss.

Between Ohio State and Indiana, Ohio State is simply a squad who UCLA will person nan champion chance of jumping. They will look Indiana, Texas, Oregon, USC, and Michigan. Not an easy schedule to opportunity nan least. Common opponents could play a domiciled successful this arsenic well.

Indiana will beryllium bully successful 2026, while they will suffer a fewer notable players, they will still beryllium astir nan top, and it's schedule allows it. Oregon connected nan different manus has a overmuch easier schedule, meaning that UCLA's title tally really relies connected if they are capable to triumph that matchup head-to-head.

The Bruins person the roster to really make immoderate sound this season. However, for them to make nan playoffs, they request to play their champion football, which is easier said than done.

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