Big Ten Football Opponents Announced for Next Five Years
October 05, 2023 | Football
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- The Big Ten Conference announced Thursday the 18-team football scheduling model, which includes home and away opponents in the nine-game conference slate for UCLA's first five years in the league. All 17 of the other Big Ten schools will play UCLA in Rose Bowl Stadium at least once during the five-year cycle. The Bruins will meet crosstown rival USC each season and UCLA will also continue to battle against Oregon and/or Washington each year.
The traditional Big Ten opponent the Bruins most recently played on the gridiron was Nebraska at the 2015 Foster Farms Bowl. The Cornhuskers are the opponent the Bruins have played most of the traditional Big Ten teams (13 times). UCLA has a series history in football with each of the seventeen other Big Ten schools except for Indiana and Rutgers.
In the 2024 campaign, UCLA will host five league opponents in Rose Bowl Stadium: Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Oregon and USC. The Bruins will be squaring off with Indiana for the first time ever and most recently hosted the Hawkeyes for a true road contest in 1977 and the Golden Gophers in 1978. UCLA will also welcome long-time foes Oregon and USC to Pasadena, Calif. next season. UCLA's league road contests include games at Nebraska, Penn State, Rutgers and Washington. The Bruins most recently played at Nebraska in the 2013 season and at Penn State in 1967. The trip to Rutgers will mark the first-ever meeting between the schools(see listing of 2024 and other future schedules and opponents below).
Football Championship Game, which features the top two teams in the overall conference standings at the end of the regular season, with the winner earning the Big Ten Championship. Tiebreaking procedures will be announced later.
The game dates for the home and away games on the 2024 football schedule are expected to be announced later this year.
Season-ticket deposits for 2024 can be placed NOW to guarantee seats at Rose Bowl Stadium for UCLA's first season in the Big Ten Conference.
2024 UCLA FOOTBALL OPPONENTS
at Nebraska
at Penn State
at Rutgers
at Washington
Indiana
Iowa
Minnesota
Oregon
USC
Previously announced (date): at Hawai'i (Aug. 31), Fresno State (Sept. 14) and at LSU (Sept. 21)
2025 UCLA FOOTBALL OPPONENTS
at Indiana
at Michigan State
at Northwestern
at Ohio State
at USC
Maryland
Nebraska
Penn State
Washington
Previously announced (date): Georgia (Aug. 30), at UNLV (Sept. 6) and New Mexico (Sept. 13)
2026 UCLA FOOTBALL OPPONENTS
at Maryland
at Michigan
at Minnesota
at Oregon
Illinois
Michigan State
Purdue
USC
Wisconsin
Previously announced (date): at Georgia (Sept. 5), San Diego State (Sept. 12) and Nevada (Sept. 19)
2027 UCLA FOOTBALL OPPONENTS
at Illinois
at Iowa
at Purdue
at USC
at Wisconsin
Michigan
Northwestern
Oregon
Rutgers
Previously announced (date): UC Davis (Aug. 28), Auburn (Sept. 4) and at Hawai'i (Sept. 18)
2028 UCLA FOOTBALL OPPONENTS
at Nebraska
at Penn State
at Rutgers
at Washington
Indiana
Maryland
Minnesota
Ohio State
USC
Previously announced (date): at Auburn (Sept. 2) and Hawai'i (Sept. 9)
Schedules are subject to change
UCLA FOOTBALL VS. THE BIG TEN
Illinois (series tied 6-6) last played UCLA in 2011
Indiana will be meeting UCLA for the first time
Iowa (UCLA leads series 7-2) last played UCLA in the 1986 Rose Bowl Game
Maryland (series tied 1-1) last played UCLA in 1955
Michigan (UCLA trails series 3-8) last played UCLA in 2000
Michigan State (series tied 3-3) last played UCLA in 1974
Minnesota (UCLA trails series 1-2) last played UCLA in 1978
Nebraska (UCLA trails series 6-7) last played UCLA in 2015
Northwestern (series tied 3-3) last played UCLA in 2005
Ohio State (series tied 4-4-1) last played UCLA in 2001
Oregon (UCLA leads series 40-32) last played UCLA in 2022
Penn State (UCLA leads series 4-2) last played UCLA in 1968
Purdue (UCLA leads series 3-0-2) last played UCLA in 1980
Rutgers will be meeting UCLA for the first time
USC (UCLA trails series 33-50-7) last played UCLA in 2022
Washington (UCLA leads series 42-32-2) last played UCLA in 2022
Wisconsin (UCLA leads series 7-4) last played UCLA in 2000
UCLA has won its most recent meeting with the following schools: Iowa (1985), Michigan (2000), Michigan State (1974), Minnesota (1978), Northwestern (2005), Ohio State (2001), Purdue (1980), Washington (2022) and Wisconsin (2000).