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Major College Football Program Should Consider Head Coaching Move After Friday's Game
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- Major College Football Program Should Consider Head Coaching Move After Friday's Game
It's truly difficult to know the appropriate amount of time to give a college football coach before deciding whether or not he is right for the job.
The Mississippi State Bulldogs moved on from Zach Arnett after 10 games as the full-time head coach in 2023, while the Florida Gators ' Billy Napier has been on the hot seat for three of his four years, yet still has a chance to save his job.
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However, when it comes to UCLA Bruins head coach DeShaun Foster, it's beginning to look like after just 15 games as the head coach of his alma mater, he is not the right man for the job.
Foster was hired by the program ahead of 2024 after Chip Kelly left for the Ohio State Buckeyes ' offensive coordinator gig, and while there are signs that he attracted boosters and support from former players, his most significant issue is the product on the field.
The development isn't too shocking, considering he had never been a coordinator or head coach before being elevated from running backs coach to head coach.
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DeShaun Foster Struggling to Build Off 2024
UCLA finished 5-7 last season, but showed plenty of fight along the way, which was encouraging. However, through three games, UCLA is making a case for the worst Power Four team in the country. Defensively, the Bruins are allowing 36 points per game, while averaging just 14.3 on offense.
The truly depressing statistic that only worsens when considering two of UCLA's opponents are Mountain West programs, with the most recent being the New Mexico Lobos , who throttled them 35-10 at home on Friday to send the Bruins to 0-3. It's also baffling when you consider the Bruins landed the No. 1 transfer in the portal in former Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava .
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ESPN's FPI has UCLA as the No. 98 team in the country, the second-worst among Power Four schools, ahead of only the Wake Forest Demon Deacons . The FPI also views the Bruins as having the No. 26 strength of schedule remaining, meaning it will only get worse with matchups against the No. 2 Penn State Nittany Lion, No. 22 Indiana Hoosiers and No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes on the horizon.
While firing a head coach this early into his contract would normally be a huge financial burden, letting Foster walk isn't necessarily going to break the bank.
How Much is DeShaun Foster's Buyout at UCLA?
Foster ranks as the 58th-highest-paid coach in college football, earning $3.25 million this season, according to the USA Today . According to the database, Foster's buyout comes out to over $7.9 million, which when you consider there are programs out there like Texas A&M , which paid nearly $80 million to fire Jimbo Fisher, that's not bad at all.
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If the program truly wants to be competitive, it will have to cut its losses and attempt to take a big swing in the offseason.
UCLA Bruins head coach DeShaun Foster watches game action against the Utah Utes.Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Names to Look Out for to Replace DeShaun Foster
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Alex Golesh ( USF Bulls head coach): Program builder who knows what it takes to transform a struggling program like UCLA.
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Ben Arbuckle ( Oklahoma Sooners offensive coordinator): On the younger side at 30, but an offensive mastermind that will attract top recruits in a talent hotbed.
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Tony White ( Florida State Seminoles defensive coordinator): Played at UCLA and was actually a candidate when Foster was hired. Can bring toughness to the program and instill a new fire.
It's not a fun decision to make, but one that appears to be necessary.
Related: Deion Sanders Used One Word to Describe His Feelings on Colorado's Loss
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Sep 13, 2025, where it first appeared in the College section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
