In two weeks’ time, UCLA tallied for 80 points, became the first winless program (0-4) since 1985 to defeat a top-10 opponent, and managed a distance itself from the bottom of the conference ranking. Soon enough, it was being hailed as Jerry Neuheisel’s team. From Fox College Football and On3 to Pat McAfee, the interim offensive coordinator was placed front and centre of the massive turnaround.

Maybe where Tim Skipper, the interim head coach, had stumbled was losing 17-14 to Northwestern in his first week of assuming the role. The spotlight around Neuheisel was so bright, Awful Announcing had to ask if people were aware who the interim head coach was. Eventually, on October 13th, Ben Bolch of the LA Times brought up the matter to Skipper himself during the media availability.

“I guess it’s good that I don’t get on social media and all that stuff right now because I don’t feel that way,” the coach said. “But I don’t really know what’s happening in the outside world [because] I’m in this [practice] building so much. But I love what I’m doing; I’m just working, man, and I just try to put us in the best position to be successful on Saturday. That’s all I can control. I just control the controllables. I don’t know what the narrative is and all that stuff.”

There are reasons aplenty as to why McAfee posted “Neuheisel just might be a football wizard” while Fox announced the former QB’s ‘era had begun’.

Neuheisel took his seat as an interim OC after Tino Sunseri was fired on September 30th. The Bruins were left with two days of practice with the new OC before they went on to dominate Penn State 42-37. It was enough to spark a conversation. But there came more. A comparison of First four games vs last two shows:

• 14.3 to 40 in points per game
• 321.3 to 426.5 in yards per game
• 124.3 to 253.5 in rushing yards per game

What’s more, Nico Iamaleava, who had carried UCLA’s hopes with him when he signed this offseason, came alive. The star QB combined for 346 passing yards and five touchdowns in two games. Moreover, his 66.2 completion percentage is already a career best compared to his two seasons at Tennessee. Undoubtedly, Neuheisel has managed to revive the struggling offense, but can’t deny that Skipper has been able to hold it all together.

Redshirt senior defensive lineman Jacob Busic says the transition from Foster to the new HC was just pretty smooth. None of  “I don’t like this. I don’t like that. I liked it the old way. I like it the new way.” Instead, “It’s more just, this is the situation that we’re in, let’s make the most of it.” The Bruins have gone on to embrace Skipper’s ‘Why not me?’ mentality while he continues to bring around the energy and the motivation.

Following their win against Penn State, he printed out “ARE YOU A ONE-HIT WONDER?” posters and left them on the players’ seats on the plane.

Since presiding over DeShaun Foster, who was relieved of his duties after a 0-3 start, Skipper has helped UCLA move out of a hole it had dug too deep. Either through the locker room culture or on field calls, the Bruins have moved up 11 spots on ESPN’s updated Football Power Index– 79th to 68th. They are also favored to win the next game against Maryland (4-2, 1-2) on Saturday at the Rose Bowl.

It’s evident that Skipper is bringing a change to remember, but will UCLA keep him on the team for long?

UCLA’s major financial decision around Tim Skipper

Tim Skipper’s quick success has sparked speculation about his stay and continued tenure on the team. Everything about the 2-1 stretch says he would fit the role quite well. But UCLA’s upcoming meet suggests a different picture.

In a post shared by Bolch on October 12th, a report states, the UC Regents are scheduled to meet on Tuesday to discuss how much UCLA can pay its next football coach. A USA Today speculation further notes that, UC Regents’ — aka the governing board for the University of California system — approval is necessary when a program is considering a big jump in coach’s salary.

Former coach, DeShaun Foster had signed for a 5-year $15 million contract in 2024. That $3 million annual salary put him 62nd among college football coaches. If Skipper were going to assume the permanent role, he would very likely fall in the same bracket, given he is currently earning $875k. If the speculation on the above report is true, then UCLA could be considering a big fish, preparing for a solid contract.

As of now, names like Jedd Fisch and Pat Fitzgerald have been floated around. What the Tuesday’s meet rolls out, could eventually decide Tim Skipper’s future.