Deshaun Foster’s seat at UCLA is growing hotter after a shaky start to the season. A thrashing by Utah and a loss against UNLV have now drawn scrutiny  on Foster’s performance as a head coach, raising questions about his ability. This is not the season Bruin fans were expecting after the bombshell trade with Tennessee for their QB Nico Iamaleava.

UCLA’s start to this season has been far from impressive. In the season opener, they faced Utah and got absolutely smashed 43-10. In week 2, they faced UNLV and lost the game 30-23. Foster’s inability to win the opening games has led to analysts criticizing his game management. Zach Anderson-Yoxsimer, who was joined by Sean Reider, gave their thoughts on UCLA’s performance on the Locked On UCLA podcast. Speaking on the matter, Reider said, “I didn’t expect UCLA to win the Big 10. I didn’t even know if they would finish in the top six of the Big 10, but I understood kind of the optimism.”  

“But I did not think this was going to be a must-win game for UCLA. When New Mexico is treated as a must-win game, that’s usually not a good sign for any program.” said Reider. The conversation indicates how deep UCLA has fallen, where they have to play a do-or-die game against New Mexico. “It’s really low when this could be the most embarrassing start for UCLA, and you lose on the road, you host New Mexico.” continued Reider.

When UCLA made the transition to the Big 1o conference from the Pac-12 last season, many critics did not give them a chance to survive in the league. They finished the season without a bowl appearance. However, there were some glimpses of hope, which included victories against the likes of Hawaii, Nebraska, and Iowa. Victories that were seen as a stepping stone for the Bruins for the next season. However, it appears that Deshaun Foster’s squad has a long road ahead of them.

Entering his second season with the team, Foster still has a lot to prove to the fans (and the critics, of course). An abysmal performance in the opener of the 2025 season has put Foster on the ‘hot’ seat, and he could likely be replaced mid-season. Foster signed a five-year deal with UCLA in 2024, with a scheduled earning of $3.1 million this season. If UCLA replaces him on or before December 1, then they will owe him 70% of his remaining salary. That buyout drops to 60% if UCLA drops him after December 1.

It’s not the end of Nico Iamaleava’s story at UCLA

The season might not have gone the way Nico Iamaleava must have imagined. But he earned praise for his play from the HC after week 1’s loss against Utah. “Nico’s a competitor…he’s not going to quit, keep playing hard. Kept motivating the guys around him. We just got to do a better job protecting him and keeping him upright,” said Foster.

He played better in the Week 2 game against UNLV, finishing the game with 255 passing yards and a touchdown on 29 of 41 passing completions. Iamaleava’s presence in the second game made UCLA show a bit more of the potential that was promised. This showcases Nico’s ability to do wonders for the team. The missing piece is a solid support system surrounding him.

Considering his form in Tennessee, it’s safe to say that the QB has not fully settled in. It is quite clear that Iamaleava does not have the same caliber of teammates that he had in Tennessee. A quarterback can only do so much without a proper safety blanket. Week 3 could make or break UCLA’s season.