UCLA Faces Maryland Seeking First 4-0 Start Since 2022
LOS ANGELES – The UCLA football program eyes a milestone start to the 2026 season when the No. 1-ranked Bruins welcome Maryland to SECU Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 26. Kickoff is set for 10:30 a.m. PT on Big Ten Network, and the matchup carries extra significance as UCLA chases its first 4-0 opening since 2022 under first-year head coach Bob Chesney.
Game Information and Preview
The Bruins (3-0) and Terrapins (2-1) meet for the fourth time in series history and for a second consecutive season. UCLA defeated Maryland 20-17 in last year’s Rose Bowl meeting on Oct. 18, 2025, thanks to a game-winning 23-yard field goal by Mateen Bhaghani with two seconds remaining.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Venue | SECU Stadium, College Park, Md. |
| Kickoff | 10:30 a.m. PT |
| Television | Big Ten Network |
| TV Talent | Mark Followill, Rhett Lewis, Caroline Hendershot |
| Local Radio | KABC-AM 790 — Josh Lewin, Matt Stevens, Wayne Cook |
| SiriusXM | Radio 267 / App 977 |
Wayne Knight’s Historic Start
Fifth-year running back Wayne Knight has set a UCLA record with eight rushing touchdowns through the first three games of the season, surpassing the mark of seven held by Skip Hicks since 1997. His eight total touchdowns lead the nation, and Knight is the seventh Big Ten player since 2000 to reach that mark through a team’s first three contests.
Knight leads the FBS with 8.85 yards per carry (345 yards on 39 carries) and sits atop the national rankings in total points scored (48) and total touchdowns (8). He enters Saturday’s game with 1,908 career rushing yards, just 92 shy of the 2,000-yard milestone.
Knight was named a 2025 Paul Hornung Award finalist and Associated Press second-team All-American after setting a school record with 2,039 all-purpose yards last season, including 1,373 rushing, 397 receiving, 180 on punt returns, and 89 on kickoff returns.
Nico Iamaleava and Offensive Production
Quarterback Nico Iamaleava threw for a UCLA career-high 276 passing yards and three touchdowns in the Purdue victory, including two scoring passes to wide receiver Semaj Morgan in the first quarter. The Bruins piled up 645 total yards — the seventh-highest output in program history for a conference game and their most during the Big Ten era.
Sammy Omosigho’s Defensive Dominance
Senior linebacker Sammy Omosigho continues to make an immediate impact at UCLA. He leads the FBS with four forced fumbles and is believed to be the first Bruin to record a forced fumble in three straight games. Omosigho also leads the Big Ten in total tackles (33), solo tackles (21), tackles for loss (6.5), and sacks (3.0).
In last week’s win over Purdue, Omosigho recorded a career-high 11 solo tackles, two forced fumbles, and 2.0 sacks, earning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors. His 14-tackle performance against California in Week 1 — which nearly doubled his previous career high — earned him Chuck Bednarik Award Player of the Week recognition.
From 2023-25, Omosigho played at Oklahoma, tallying 96 tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, and one forced fumble over 37 games. He ranked in the top five in tackling among all Sooners in both 2024 and 2025.
Bob Chesney’s Coaching Impact
Head coach Bob Chesney, hired Dec. 6, 2025, as the 20th leader in UCLA football history, looks to become the first Bruin coach since Red Sanders to start his tenure with a 4-0 mark. Chesney arrived after two seasons at James Madison, where he compiled a 21-6 record, guided the Dukes to an 8-0 conference mark in 2025 — just the 10th unbeaten conference record in Sun Belt history — and captured the program’s first Sun Belt Conference championship and College Football Playoff berth.
Chesney owns a career record of 135-52 (.722) across 17 seasons directing five programs at four levels of college football. Twenty-six staff members and 10 student-athletes followed him from Harrisonburg, Va., to Westwood.
New-Look Bruins Roster
UCLA added a Big Ten-leading 46 transfer student-athletes and 17 true freshmen this offseason. Forty-three players have made their Bruin debuts through the first three weeks, and all 12 transfers with James Madison ties have seen game action.
Among the notable additions is junior defensive lineman Sahir West, the 2025 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year, who posted 45 tackles, 14.0 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks, and one forced fumble at James Madison. He set a Sun Belt Championship game record with 5.5 tackles for loss against Troy.
Series History
This contest marks the fourth all-time meeting between UCLA and Maryland, with the Bruins holding a 2-1 advantage dating back to 1954. UCLA is playing its first game at Maryland since Sept. 24, 1955, when the No. 1-ranked Bruins fell 7-0 to the No. 5-ranked Terrapins on muddy turf in College Park.
UCLA ticket packages and single-game tickets remain available. Fans can call (310) 206-5991 or email tickets@athletics.ucla.edu for details.
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