UCLA’s recent upset over a top-10 team is making headlines, and for good reason. It marked the first time since 1985 that a winless 0-4 program defeated a top-10 opponent. After the win, OL Jerry Neuheisel’s play calling became instant eye candy for all fans, as he took a team struggling to even score 40 points in the first four games and ended up scoring 80 in the next two. But while Neuheisel’s brilliance dominated the limelight, interim head coach Tim Skipper’s steady leadership behind the scenes was equally critical. Yet his role in the historic turnaround remains largely underappreciated.

Skipper’s efforts helped lift the Bruins 11 spots on ESPN’s updated Football Power Index, moving them from 79th to 68th. The best part is that for the first time this season, UCLA is no longer at the bottom of the Big Ten FPI rankings. But Skipper seems almost unaware of the difference he’s made. While talking to UCLA beat writer Ben Bolch, he said, “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,” Skipper said. “But I don’t really know what’s happening in the outside world [because] I’m in this [practice] building so much.”

For Tim Skipper, it’s not about the social media hype but the way you put out your team every weekend, proving what they are capable of. “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,” he further added. Skipper has successfully put UCLA back in the national spotlight. As of now, even ESPN predicts them to win 3.1 games this season with a 0.6% chance of winning six games. The schedule sure keeps the prediction low, but at least they are not among the last-ranked teams this year.

UCLA scored 38 unanswered points against Michigan State, and even against Penn State, they were dynamic. They had nearly 51 minutes of possession and allowed just two shots on goal from them for more than 70 minutes into the game. So, if that’s not dominance, then what is it? But the entire less-credit scenario came in after people started confusing the head coach’s position with Jerry Neuheisel. That’s right; Skipper’s humility kept him under the radar, leading many to assume that Jerry Neuheisel was the interim head coach. With that, UCLA remains unbeaten in Big Ten games at home this season.

It’s not just their performance on the field that improved, but also how well Tim Skipper’s been motivating his team by pumping up energy into them with motivational tactics like printing out stuff like “ARE YOU A ONE-HIT WONDER?” on players’ seats on the plane last week. And the result is pretty evident with their win against Michigan State.

But will UCLA be able to keep him on the team for long?

UCLA’s major financial drama around Tim Skipper

Tim Skipper’s quick success has sparked speculation about his stay on the team. And UCLA’s beat writer Ben Bloch revealed that this thought is under discussion.

But it all comes down to the question of, “How much can UCLA pay its next football coach?” Now this meeting is set to take place on October 14 and will be directed to the teams’ future, as they are already facing budget issues with a lot of pressure after recent instability.

Last season, the board approved a $10 million annual budget for the coaching staff for the next three years. During that time, DeShaun Foster was the one who took over with a $15 million deal, giving him $3 million for five years. On top of that, he also used to get a yearly $100k raise. That salary put him straight at 62nd highest among college football coaches, which is way better than Kenny Dillingham, who just makes $7.4 million.

Now, names like Jedd Fisch and Pat Fitzgerald are already in the mix. Now, let’s wait and see which head coach finally steps up and gains momentum in the league this season.