Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

UCLA Predicted to Hire College Football Coach Poised for a Fresh Start

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nate Lunak | Last updated Nov 2, 2025 11:31 AM ET

The UCLA Bruins fired head coach DeShaun Foster on Sept. 14, two days after suffering their third straight loss to start the 2025 college football season. There are certainly flashier head coaching vacancies available, including at Penn State, LSU and Florida.

Foster took over in 2024, posting a 5-10 record during his short tenure and going 5-7 in his lone full season. Despite interim head coach Tim Skipper leading the Bruins to a 3-2 record so far, the program is expected to seek other options.

However, turning UCLA around isn't an easy task in today's era of college football. According to NIL-NCAA, the Bruins ranked 13th in the Big Ten in collective funding ($5.9 million) in 2023-24.

Someone will get the chance, though, and Matt Johnson of Sportnaut predicts UCLA will hire current Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith as Foster's replacement.

Michigan State Spartans head coach Jonathan Smith.© Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

"What happened with DeShaun Foster also demonstrates why the UCLA coaching search needs to prioritize head-coaching experience," Johnson wrote. "Jonathan Smith’s tenure at Michigan State hasn’t gone well, and it’s very possible both sides would be better off parting ways. The Pasadena native can return to California, bringing stability to a program that needs it. It’s a safe hire for UCLA and a hiring that feels a bit inevitable."

Smith and the Spartans are off to a rough start in 2025, sitting at 3-6, riding a six-game losing streak. Smith finds himself firmly in the hot seat after Michigan State's loss to the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Saturday.

Since joining the Spartans in 2024, he has compiled an 8-13 record. However, much of his coaching success occurred during his six-year tenure with the Oregon State Beavers (2018-2023). That includes recording three straight winning seasons from 2021 to 2023. Smith's teams went 1-1 in bowl games.

This isn't the first time Smith has been linked to the Big Ten program, either. CBS Sports' Daniel Lewis also named him as a "potential target" for the Bruins.

Despite his shortcomings at Michigan State, Smith has proven to be successful in the past, and a fresh start with UCLA could help turn things around.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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