UCLA Defeats Minnesota 34-20 to Reach 9-0 Start

UCLA defeated Minnesota 34-20 on November 7, 2026, in Minneapolis, claiming its ninth victory to start the season.

Quarterback Ty Dieffenbach and wide receiver Aidan Mizell connected on back-to-back offensive plays in the fourth quarter for a 75-yard touchdown.

The Bruins earned their first 9-0 start since 1998 by overcoming tight contests throughout the year. They won a game tied late against Cal, recovered after failing to score in the first half against San Diego State, and played the second half at Oregon without their starting quarterback.

Running back Wayne Knight scored a touchdown and safety Scooter Jackson secured an interception to seal the victory in a stadium where Minnesota had not lost a Big Ten game since 2024. Linebacker Sammy Omosigho also contributed to the defensive stops.

Despite remaining undefeated in the Big Ten or SEC, UCLA was placed No. 8 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings released the prior week. The committee ranked two-loss Alabama and two-loss Texas ahead of the Bruins.

UCLA head coach Bob Chesney described the rankings as a four-week drama series and told his team to ignore them, stating he was totally neutral on what the committee might say. Mizell echoed that sentiment, saying their goal is to go undefeated.

The Bruins hold remaining games against Illinois, Michigan, and USC to solidify their standing. UCLA wants to finish in the top 8 to secure a first-round home game in the expanded 12-team playoff, while a top-4 finish would give the Bruins a first-round bye.