UCLA’s 2023 football schedule has been released.

Unlike a year ago when UCLA opened up with five home games in its first six and cupcakes in the opening four weeks, the Bruins will be tested right away in Chip Kelly’s sixth season.

The Bruins open up against Sun Belt runner-up Coastal Carolina — what will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs. The Chanticleers reached No. 23 in the AP Top 25 during the 2022 campaign. It will be the team’s home opener, and potentially the debut of 5-star 2023 signee Dante Moore.

UCLA opens Pac-12 play on Sept. 23 against the two-time defending conference champion Utah Utes on the road. This represents the earliest matchup of the programs since Utah became a Pac-12 member.

UCLA gets an early bye week after the matchup with Utah, then closes out with eight games in eight weeks.

The Bruins will host Washington State on Oct. 7 and then travel to Corvallis to battle Oregon State on Oct. 14. It’ll be the first time Wazzu has traveled to Pasadena since 2015 and the first time the Bruins have gone up to Corvallis since 2015. The Beavers should provide a real test on the heels of the program’s first 10-win season since 2006.

The Bruins look for their third straight victory against Stanford when they make the trip north on Oct. 21. UCLA will also try for a third consecutive win over Colorado when Deion Sanders and the Buffs come to the Rose Bowl on Oct. 28.

Back-to-back dates with the desert schools follow, as the Bruins play at Arizona on Nov. 4 and then host Arizona State and new head coach Kenny Dillingham in the Rose Bowl on Nov. 11.

The 93rd meeting of crosstown rivals UCLA and USC takes place at the L.A. Coliseum on Nov. 18. The Bruins earned a 62-33 win the last time they went to USC’s home. The regular-season finale against California is set for Saturday, Nov. 25.

Here’s the full schedule:

  • Sept. 2: vs. Coastal Carolina
  • Sept. 9: at San Diego State
  • Sept. 16: vs. NC Central
  • Sept. 23: at Utah
  • Sept. 30: BYE
  • Oct. 7: vs. Washington State
  • Oct. 14: at Oregon State
  • Oct. 21: at Stanford
  • Oct. 28: vs. Colorado
  • Nov. 4: at Arizona
  • Nov. 11: vs. Arizona State
  • Nov. 18: at USC
  • Nov. 25: vs. Cal