DeShaun Foster, Nico Iamaleava under microscope after 0-2 start: Why UCLA coaching change could be on horizon

The UCLA has grown in the 2025 season after adding unexpectedly the quarter Nico Iamaleava via the transfer portal. Second -year coach Deshaun Foster apparently had Bruins on the right track after also winning several impressive victories in his first season. But after consecutive losses to open the year, it will take a significant reversal in season for the UCLA to meet its highest expectations.

CBS sports experts highlighted the situation of the UCLA in the Sunday episode of the program “College Football Insiders” and noted that Foster’s employment security is quickly called into question. The defeat of week 2 against UNLV, which was hardly as close as score 30-23 indicates, associated with a rout of 43-10 in the hands of UTAH in the opening of the season, the eyebrows raised the eyebrows throughout the industry.

“It was half paid that Chip Kelly was at the UCLA,” said Chris Hummer about Foster. “It is not a particularly expensive acquisition. If things continue to pass in the wrong direction, it is a job that many people in this space consider that that could open.”

Foster has signed a five -year agreement with his Alma Mater on his arrival in 2024 and is expected to earn $ 3.1 million this season. If the UCLA draws it no later than December 1, it owes 70% of its remaining total salary. This acquisition falls to 60% if the Bruins go from Foster after the brand of December 1.

UCLA signed Foster on a good deal. It was only the 58th highest coach among those of public schools of the year 1, according to the USA Today salary database, and the fourth lowest price at Power Four level.

“It always looked like a bridge rental in some ways of” let’s go cheap “. But I think it’s dangerous to do this to an old one,” said John Talty. “It is a guy who is very appreciated, and he was partly brought back to bring Booster back in the mixture, bringing the old players back into the mixture. I think he did this.

“It obviously did not work at the level they wanted so far. But if you throw it after two years or three years, it is simply difficult to do to an old one. It is the dangerous thing to come back to someone that means a lot for your program. If it is not fine, it ruins the relationship a little.”

Foster took the job without a head coach experience. He had not even been a coordinator at any time in his career and, from 2017-23, was the coach of the Running Backs of the Bruins. His ability to build a winning list in Big Ten has always been a question mark, and before 2025, a few holes on the depth board justified this uncertainty.

“There are clear gaps on this list along the offensive line and the receiver,” said Hummer. “Nico’s camp even had some of these questions in the year. Despite the fact that he went to the UCLA, there were questions on the offensive line and the large receptor room, and that was manifested.”

He was clear for two games that Aumaleava does not have the same caliber of support casting he had around him in Tennessee. While knowingly chose the UCLA as his landing point, he finally came across Foster to build a list around him, and offensive weapons were significantly lower when the Bruins totaled only 33 points during their first two games.