The season is almost over for UCLA. With only one final home game remaining, interim HC Tim Skipper addressed his future with the Bruins. This comes after interim OC Jerry Neuheisel’s father named the head coach replacement.

The 2025 season has been unforgiving for the Bruins. After Tim Skipper replaced Deshaun Foster, there hasn’t been an uptick in the form that UCLA faithful wished for. A string of blown-out defeats to Indiana, Nebraska, and Ohio State has raised potential candidates for the head coach position. With the Rose Bowl game against Washington ahead, Skipper addressed his future with UCLA.

“I’m one of those people who don’t think about the past until the season’s over. Then I kind of reflect. It’s just been an honor to be able to wear these colors and go out there and give our all. So, that would be the memory right there. I know, like the Penn State game will come to mind once I truly reflect and all that stuff, but just the kids playing hard and giving it all we’ve got. That’s the main thing.” Skipper said on the November 17th episode of UCLA Athletics.

After taking over, Skipper’s UCLA got beaten by Northwestern. The Bruins looked revamped against Penn State the following week and won 42-37. Consecutive victories against MI State and Maryland gave hope to the UCLA fans that maybe Skipper was the man for the role after all.

But Indiana and Nebraska crushed those hopes. Ohio State followed the trend and proved that a change is necessary after all with the 48-10 win over the Bruins in Week 12. The Bruins have managed a 3-4 record and are definitely out of the playoffs. Rick Neuheisel believes UCLA is lining up $3 million coach Bob Chesney to be the replacement for Tim Skipper.

UCLA already has Tim Skipper’s replacement in mind

Ole Miss’s Lane Kiffin was the obvious first choice for the UCLA top job. However, the Rebels have decided to put an end to the rumors, extending his contract with the program. Rick Neuheisel believes this has given rise to another candidate, Bob Chesney, to be the next head coach for the Bruins, and with a good reason, too.

“I’m hearing Bob Chesney from James Madison at UCLA. He’s gotta make a decision,” the ex-UCLA head coach said on CBS Sports. Chesney has managed to pull James Madison into the AP top 25 poll (21st). That is an impressive feat, considering his program ranks above the SEC’s Missouri. He has also led the Dukes to the top in the SBC conference with a 9-1 overall record.

Bob Chesney’s career record stands at an impressive 128-51. He’s managed an 18-5 record at James Madison in only his second year of tenure. His contract with the Dukes is worth around $2.75 million and is earning more than $833,000 this season, totalling around $3 million. For a big program like UCLA, that figure would be much cheaper than what they would’ve had to pay for Lane Kiffin’s service.