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Upcoming UCLA Bruins Football dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
UCLA football in brief: a Los Angeles program that plays in Pasadena
The UCLA Bruins play their 2026 home football games at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, about 10 miles north-northeast of downtown Los Angeles, on Saturdays from early September through late November. UCLA has used the Rose Bowl since 1982 and joined the Big Ten in 2024, along with USC, Oregon and Washington.
The program fielded its first team in 1919. Its high point came under Red Sanders in the 1950s: the 1954 team went 9–0 and won the Coaches' Poll national championship, shared with AP champion Ohio State, which is the title UCLA claims. Quarterback Gary Beban won the Heisman Trophy in 1967. Terry Donahue, the winningest coach in school history, led the Bruins to 13 bowl games and an NCAA-record eight straight bowl wins in the 1980s and 1990s. Jackie Robinson played football at UCLA before his Hall of Fame baseball career.
UCLA's identity rests on its powder blue uniforms (a shade Sanders introduced) and its crosstown rivalry with USC. Rosters and coaching staffs change, so check the team site for the current lineup.
The stadium question
In late 2025, reports surfaced that UCLA planned to leave the Rose Bowl for SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The City of Pasadena and the Rose Bowl Operating Company sued to hold UCLA to a lease that runs through 2043, and in February 2026 UCLA said it would play the 2026 season at the Rose Bowl. Its 2026 schedule lists every home game in Pasadena. Check the schedule for later seasons before you plan around either stadium.
Where to sit at the Rose Bowl for a UCLA game
The Rose Bowl is a single, open bowl with no upper deck and no roof, so row number matters more than level. Seating guides agree on the basics:
- Sections 1–28 run around the oval, and each section is split by an aisle into an L half and an H half (low and high seat numbers).
- The west sideline, in roughly the high teens, sits in front of the Terry Donahue Pavilion, the seven-story structure with the press box, suites and club seats. UCLA's bench has been placed on this side.
- The east sideline, in roughly sections 1–8, faces the pavilion.
- The end zones are largely bench seating rather than chairbacks.
Best seats and seats to skip
Aim for the sidelines between the 20-yard lines at about row 20 to row 40. The lettered front rows and the lowest numbered rows sit nearly level with the field, so players and staff on the sideline block the far side of the play. The top rows are far away but have nothing overhead and a clear view of the whole field and the San Gabriel foothills.
Sun and shade
The field runs nearly north to south. For afternoon kickoffs, the west sideline gains shade as the sun drops behind the pavilion, while the east sideline stays in sun until sunset. Early-season games in Pasadena can be hot; UCLA's gameday plan includes water refill stations, cooling buses, tents and misters. Bring a layer for night games, when the Arroyo Seco cools quickly.
Why the stadium can look smaller
The Rose Bowl's listed capacity is about 89,700, but since 2021 UCLA has covered the upper north end zone with a tarp for its games, which brought official capacity to 69,747. That leaves plenty of seats for most games and makes the sideline the place to spend your money.
USC, the Victory Bell and the biggest UCLA home games
The schedule's peak is the USC game. The two schools sit about 10 miles apart inside Los Angeles city limits, shared the Coliseum until 1982, and play every year for the Victory Bell. The game alternates sites; in 2026 it is in Pasadena on November 28, the last Saturday of the regular season. The Rose Bowl's regular-season record crowd, 100,741, came at the 1988 UCLA–USC game.
Other games that draw well:
- Big Ten visitors with traveling fan bases. Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin bring large road followings to Southern California, and Pasadena in the fall is an easy trip to sell.
- Oregon and Washington, longtime Pac-12 rivals now in the Big Ten with UCLA.
- California. UCLA and Cal met every year from 1933 to 2023, and UCLA scheduled nonconference games against Cal from 2026 to 2029.
Most nonconference games and early-season dates are easier to buy, and resale prices for them often sit well below demand for USC week.
Gameday in the Arroyo Seco: parking, tailgating and transit
The Rose Bowl sits in a residential canyon on Pasadena's west side, and traffic is the most common complaint about the venue. Plan to arrive early and leave late.
- Parking and tailgating. UCLA's gameday guide says lots, including the Brookside golf course when weather permits, open six hours before kickoff, and tailgating ends 90 minutes after the game. Tents are limited to 10 by 10 feet, glass is not allowed, and alcohol is prohibited after kickoff. Prepaying for parking costs less than paying on gameday.
- Park-and-ride. UCLA has offered a paid lot at Parsons in Old Town Pasadena with a free shuttle to the stadium.
- Metro. The nearest rail stop is Memorial Park station in Old Pasadena, about 2.4 miles from the stadium; walk or use the gameday shuttle.
- Entry. Gates open 90 minutes before kickoff, and the stadium is described as almost entirely cashless.
Before the game, the old 1922 locker room, restored in 2017 as a small museum, and the Court of Champions at the south end are worth a few minutes.
How UCLA football tickets work
UCLA sells tickets through season packages, which come with priority based on donor giving, single-game tickets and student tickets. Because UCLA games rarely fill the Rose Bowl, single-game seats are available for most dates, and the main reason to plan ahead is to get a good sideline location or parking.
The exception is the USC game in Pasadena, plus the occasional Big Ten visitor whose fans buy in bulk. For those, the resale market is where most fans find sideline seats, since season ticket holders resell the games they value most. Mobile tickets are the norm. Every order on this site is backed by a 100% guarantee.
Rose Bowl bag policy
As of the 2026 season, UCLA's gameday guide allows a clear plastic bag up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches, a one-gallon clear freezer bag, a small clutch up to 4.5 by 6.5 inches, or a diaper bag with a child. Backpacks, purses, camera cases, mesh bags, tinted bags, fanny packs and binocular cases are not allowed. Check the UCLA gameday information page for the current policy before you go.
Frequently asked questions
Where do the UCLA Bruins play home football games?
UCLA plays its 2026 home games at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, its home since 1982. UCLA has sought a move to SoFi Stadium, but a lease dispute with Pasadena kept the Bruins at the Rose Bowl for 2026.
Is UCLA moving to SoFi Stadium?
UCLA has explored a move, and the City of Pasadena sued over a Rose Bowl lease that runs through 2043. As of February 2026, UCLA said it would play the 2026 season at the Rose Bowl; check the schedule for later years.
Which side of the Rose Bowl is in the shade?
The west sideline, in front of the press box pavilion, gains shade through the afternoon. The east sideline and the end zones stay in the sun for most day games.
When is the UCLA–USC game?
The rivalry game for the Victory Bell is played every year, usually late in the regular season. In 2026 it is scheduled at the Rose Bowl on November 28.
What bags are allowed at the Rose Bowl for UCLA games?
As of 2026, a clear bag up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches, a one-gallon clear bag or a clutch up to 4.5 by 6.5 inches. Backpacks and purses are not allowed. Check UCLA's gameday page for changes.