Will USC-UCLA showdown be a close contest in 2026?

In 2026, the USC-UCLA football showdown could be a closely contested game, according to UCLA Wire writer Matt Zemek. The Bruins recently brought in Bob Chesney to revitalize the football program. Chesney aims to elevate the team to compete at the highest level, much like how it was done at the university he now coaches at.

Historically, UCLA has not been competitive with USC since the beginning of the new millennium. However, USC is expected to improve this year with a strong roster assembled by coach Lincoln Riley. Nevertheless, Zemek believes that UCLA under Chesney could be able to consistently compete with the Trojans.

Zemek points to a game played in 2023 where UCLA dominated USC with a physical defense, which overwhelmed USC's weak offensive line. This game was a clear demonstration of why UCLA was the more physical team that day. This physicality, coupled with Chesney's ability to recruit talent and develop players, could be the key to UCLA's success against USC in the future.

Comparisons to the current success of Indiana's coach Curt Cignetti, who is considered one of the best in the sport, are being made to Chesney. If Chesney is even close to Cignetti's standard, UCLA will have a strong chance of beating USC barring an exceptional performance by Riley's offense.