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UCLA's Loss to New Mexico Marks a New Low for the Bruins
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- UCLA's Loss to New Mexico Marks a New Low for the Bruins
UCLA is hurtling toward the wrong kind of history amid its worst start since 2018.
The Bruins hit a new low point in a season that's been full of them with an upset loss to New Mexico on Friday night. UCLA, a 15.5-point home favorite, lost to the Lobos, 35-10, to fall to 0-3 for the first time in seven years. To add insult to injury, the Bruins paid New Mexico $1.2 million to play the game .
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Quarterback Nico Iamaleava's transfer from UCLA to Tennessee was one of the biggest stories of the offseason. There was tepid optimism that his arrival could help bring the Bruins back to a bowl game. But after losses to Utah, UNLV and now New Mexico before Big Ten play has even begun, getting to six wins seems like a pipe dream.
The more pressing question is just how bad can things get for UCLA?
New Mexico coach Jason Eck shakes hands with UCLA coach DeShaun Foster after their game at the Rose Bowl on Sept. 12, 2025, in Pasadena, California.
The Bruins have two one-win seasons in their 98-year history. They went 1-9 in 1940 and 1-8 in 1943. UCLA also went 2-8 in 1963. The worst season in the last 50 years was the aforementioned 2018 campaign, Chip Kelly's first at the helm, when the Bruins went 3-9. That's the territory UCLA is in just three games into coach DeShaun Foster's second season.
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The Bruins' Big Ten debut in 2024 did not go as planned. They finished 5-7 overall and 3-6 in conference play, though they rallied to win four of their final six games. All of that momentum evaporated after a 43-10 home loss to former Pac-12 foe Utah in the 2025 season opener. That was followed by a 30-23 road loss at UNLV as a 2.5-point favorite. And then New Mexico came into Pasadena and picked up its first win over a power conference opponent since 2008.
UCLA has as many turnovers (four) this season as touchdowns. The Bruins have been outgained by more than 300 yards in three games and outscored by more than 60 points. Iamaleava and his supporting cast have struggled mightily — and the worst might be yet to come.
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ESPN's FPI projects UCLA to have the eighth-hardest remaining schedule , headlined by a visit from No. 2 Penn State and games at No. 22 Indiana and No. 1 Ohio State. An Oct. 18 visit from Maryland might be the only game remaining that the Bruins figure to be favored in, and they've already lost twice in that position.
UCLA is headed into a much-needed open week. The time off could allow the team to regroup ahead of the Big Ten opener at Northwestern, one of a handful of potential wins left on the schedule.
There's still a long season ahead, but Foster might not be around for all of it . His seat is only getting hotter as losses continue to pile up for the Bruins.
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The buyout is manageable if UCLA does decide to move on from Foster, who played running back for the Bruins from 1998-2001 and has been on the coaching staff for the better part of the past decade. He knows full well what's unfolded this season has not been up to the program's standard.
"I've been around this program for a long time, and it's just unfortunate what's going on at this moment," Foster told reporters after Friday's game. "Just not executing."
Related: Ranking College Football Coaches on the Hot Seat After Week 2
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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.
