After starting the season 0-3, firing $7 million head coach DeShaun Foster, and parting ways with offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri, most folks had written UCLA off for at least a two-to-three-year rebuild. But Nico Iamaleava and the Bruins had other plans. They basically said, “It’s not over until we say so,” and went out swinging—pulling off a stunning upset against James Franklin and the former No.2 ranked Penn State. That win ended up being one of the final straws that pushed Penn State to fire Franklin over the weekend. Since then, UCLA has turned into one of college football’s best comeback stories. The Bruins followed up that emotional win by steamrolling Michigan State, stacking back-to-back victories. Suddenly, the very same team everyone buried a month ago looks alive again. The UCLA Board of Regents has reportedly taken notice. Sources say the board is already working behind the scenes to build on this—lining up resources, coaching support, and long-term plans to make sure this turnaround isn’t just a temporary spark but the start of something real.

In their last 2 games, UCLA has been on fire. Everyone thought the Bruins were gonna get clobbered, but they came out of nowhere and pulled off a massive upset, winning 42-37. The team’s offense was straight fire, racking up 498 total yards, with 310 of that coming through the air. Nico Iamaleava threw for three touchdowns and no picks. Also tied the school record for the most touchdowns in a game by a QB.

To make sure it wasn’t a fluke, they doubled down in week 7 against Michigan State by winning with a 25 points margin. They out-played Spartans to 418 yards to just 253 yards. And UCLA’s running corps had a field day with 238 yards, and Jalen Berger (RB) rushed for 3 tuddies. Even their defense clutched-up, holding the Michigan State defense to just 87 yards and stopping all 4 of their fourth down attempts. Crazy to think that a team that scored 54 points in the first four games scored 80 points in the next two games.

On October 12th, College football insider Ben Bloch hopped onto X and dropped insider tea about UCLA’s board of regent meeting: “The UC Regents are meeting Tuesday to discuss how much UCLA can pay its next football coach.” The UC Regents, aka the governing board for the University of California system, are holding a special closed meeting on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at UC San Francisco. One of the main topics they’ll discuss is how much UCLA can pay its next football head coach. Because this involves details about a person’s job and salary, the discussion will take place in a private session rather than in public.

Besides the UCLA coaching contract, the Regents will also talk about financial matters for UC San Diego and a possible property purchase for UC Santa Barbara. These discussions are also closed to the public because they deal with sensitive financial and property information. Essentially, the Regents are making decisions about big money and property issues that affect several UC campuses.

The UCLA regents are very optimistic about the future, especially after a recent turnover around interim HC Tim Skipper and play-caller Jerry Neuheisel. This sudden winning streak is probably going to be a huge topic at the Regents’ meeting. They’re trying to figure out who the permanent new coach will be, and the team’s recent success could totally change how they think about the job.

They’ll likely be looking for a coach who can keep this winning vibe going and make the team a real threat in its new conference. It’s too early to say whether they’ll stick with Tim Skipper for next year and promote to head coach. If UCLA goes and have a winning season, they’ll more likely stick with Tim Skipper and might even promote Jerry to permanent OC.

Tim Skipper head coach dilemma?

Tim Skipper has done a great job since becoming UCLA’s interim football coach. He’s 2-1 as an interim. He took over during a tough time and quickly brought extra energy and a positive attitude to the team. The players like his “why not me?” approach. His leadership has helped the team come together and play with more motivation.

UCLA announced that Skipper is making $875k while serving as interim head coach. This is more than what 30 other college football head coaches make. His contract also gives him bonus money if the team reaches the College Football Playoff, $20,000 just for making it and an extra $10,000 for each round they advance, up to $100k total. Even though making the playoffs is unlikely, the bonuses show UCLA values his success.

As the season continues, UCLA will have to decide whether to keep Skipper as the full-time head coach. Some reports say the school might try to hire Washington’s head coach, Jedd Fisch. But if Skipper keeps leading the team well and maintaining a strong team spirit, he could earn the permanent job. He’s shown he can handle the pressure and bring the best out of his players.