One of the most intriguing Week 1 games is a rivalry renewed, with California hosting UCLA to kick off the 2026 college football season.
It's no longer Pac-12 after dark, but this may embody the spirit of it given the stakes in this matchup. Both teams come in with new coaches − Toshu Lupoi at Cal and Bob Chesney at UCLA − that have already generated serious hype before playing a game, instilling belief in both sides they are in line for success out of the gate. A win in game No. 1 would validate it, while a loss would really set a fanbase back.
Both teams have the pieces to make some noise, led by star quarterbacks in Cal's Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele and UCLA's Nico Iamaleava. Given how the University of California rivals are meeting again, the stakes
couldn't be higher in what could be one of the best games of the season-opening weekend.
What TV channel is UCLA vs Cal on today?
- TV channel: ESPN
- Streaming: Fubo (free trial)
The 2026 Week 1 game between UCLA and Cal will be broadcast nationally on ESPN. Tom Hart (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (analyst) will be on the call with Quint Kessenich as the sideline reporter.
Streaming options for the game include the ESPN app, which requires a valid cable login to access, and Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
REQUIRED READING: College football Re-Rank 1-138: Where all FBS teams sit ahead of 2026 season
UCLA vs Cal State time today
- Date: Saturday, Sept. 5
- Start time: 10:30 p.m. ET | 7:30 p.m. PT
- Location: California Memorial Stadium (Berkeley, California)
UCLA and Cal kicks off at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT on Saturday, Sept. 5 from California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California.
UCLA vs Cal picks, predictions, odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Tuesday, Sept. 1
- Spread: UCLA (-1.5)
- Over/under: 53.5
- Moneyline: UCLA (-120); Cal (+100)
Prediction: Cal 24, UCLA 23
This game is a real toss-up and the winner is going to get so much hype. This one feels like it will be a close one, but the Golden Bears' will have a strong home-field advantage that paves the way for the Lupoi era in Berkeley to begin 1-0.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Where to watch Cal vs UCLA football today: Start time, TV channel, streaming
