8-0, won 8 straight, on track for 11-1 in the regular season.
Now
Career arc
Bowls and playoffs: 1-1
2024Boca Raton BowlW 27-17
2025CFP first roundL 34-51This week Wed Nov 4
- Last gameW 27-0 vs. Nevada Sat Oct 31
- This season8-0 won 8 straight
- On track for11-1 regular season
- Nextat Minnesota Sat Nov 7
- Stature35th of 138 FBS programs
What the result changed
- AP poll #7 → #5 up two
- Playoff odds 42% → 34% CFB Zeitgeist forecast, before and after
Saturday: at Minnesota
Sat Nov 7, 12 pm ET 
· Minnesota is 5-3 · First meeting between Chesney and P.J. Fleck as head coaches · UCLA’s chance to win: 73% (the site’s model)
His week
8-0 is in the past”
UCLA coach Bob Chesney sends message to team
Many stories this week →
The headlines, Nov 1–4 from several outlets
Yahoo SportsUndefeated UCLA's Biggest Unresolved Concern Will Eventually Force Bob Chesney to Leave for a Blue Blood Program: ReportMon Nov 2- Yahoo SportsIs UCLA's Bob Chesney about to get an extension? Bill Simmons says soMon Nov 2
On3UCLA football coach Bob Chesney talks Minnesota, Bruin Tape, offensive lineTue Nov 3- On3WATCH: UCLA head coach Bob Chesney shares first thoughts on MinnesotaMon Nov 2
247SportsEverything Bob Chesney said Tuesday ahead of UCLA's game against MinnesotaTue Nov 3- 247SportsUCLA football Tuesday practice observations: Bob Chesney preaches importance of toughnessTue Nov 3
FootballScoopUCLA set to extend Bob Chesney, Bill Simmons reportsMon Nov 2- Los Angeles Daily NewsUCLA coach Bob Chesney sends message to team: ‘8-0 is in the past’Tue Nov 3
New York PostBob Chesney puts zero stock in rankings; UCLA fans will love his takeMon Nov 2
BroBibleUCLA’s Lacking Support Sparks Concerns About Bob Chesney’s FutureSun Nov 1- UCLA WireBob Chesney sees room for improvement for his 8-0 UCLA BruinsSun Nov 1
On the podcasts
Offense: 71st of 138 per play. Defense: 1st.
4 games left
- Sat Nov 7at Minnesota (5-3)73%
- Fri Nov 13vs. Illinois (5-3)89%
- Sat Nov 21at Michigan (5-3)65%
- Sat Nov 28vs. USC (7-2)67%
Percent: UCLA’s chance to win, from the site’s model. Records are through today. Networks as announced; the rest are set closer to kickoff.
How the season got here
Where UCLA stood among 138 FBS programs by stature after each game (1st is the highest; the CFB Zeitgeist ledger).
- Oct 26–Nov 1W 27-0 vs. Nevada36 headlines · 17th of 138UCLA coach Bob Chesney’s savage reaction to lack of Rose Bowl crowd: ‘There’s no noise’ Yahoo Sports“There’s no noise”UCLA coach Bob Chesney’s savage reaction to lack of Rose Bowl crowd, Oct 31
- Oct 19–25W 28-10 vs. Michigan State13 headlines · 35th of 138Bob Chesney’s UCLA Faces Same Problem That Has Plagued Lincoln Riley’s USC Despite Unbeaten Record Yahoo Sports
- Oct 12–18W 17-7 vs. Wisconsin24 headlines · 19th of 138What UCLA Win Over Wisconsin Would Say About Bob Chesney Yahoo Sports
- Oct 5–11W 17-15 at Oregon20 headlines · 21st of 138How Bob Chesney has completely turned around UCLA
ESPN - Sep 28–Oct 4No game14 headlines · 31st of 138Dan Lanning says Bob Chesney offered to check on Dante Moore in hospital: 'Pretty amazing'
USA Today - Sep 21–27 · rebuiltW 54-3 at Maryland12 headlines · 33rd of 138UCLA routs Maryland 54-3 to stay unbeaten under Bob Chesney
CBS Sports
Each week as this page showed it at the time. Weeks marked rebuilt came before this page existed: they were built afterward from only what was known by the end of that week.
Watch the biggest plays from UCLA’s games, ranked by how much each moved the chance to win.
Poach watch
This winter
Our poach model, on his record so far, the win chances for every game he has left, his program, his pay and his background. Ranked against the 132 FBS head coaches this season. The zone words describe the market’s interest; none of them says he is leaving.
What drives his number
The biggest factors in his profile, each against the typical FBS head coach today. The games he has left are priced into the number, not listed here.
- ▼ LowerHis first season at UCLA
- ▲ HigherNo record for him here before this season · his first year in the job
- ▲ HigherHis team is 8-0, outscoring opponents by 20.1 points a game · AP-ranked
How good is this number? It ranks a head coach who leaves for another head-coaching job ahead of one who stays 78 to 82% of the time, and its average came within a point of the share who actually left. What it can’t do
Tested on every FBS head coach from 2012 through 2025, each season scored by a model fit only on the seasons before it. From three games on, given one coach who left for a head-coaching job elsewhere or an NFL coordinator job and one who stayed, it ranked the one who left ahead 79 to 82% of the time; in a season’s first two games, 78%. Its average chance came within a point of the share who actually left. It counts a move a coach makes while he still holds the job; when his school ends it, that doesn’t count, even if another school then hires him.
- The live number prices the games he has left with the power model’s ratings from this season. The test priced them with each team’s rating from the season before, because ratings made during past seasons were not kept, so this live version could not be replayed.
- Programs new to FBS have no FBS record before this season in the data it reads, so their coaches are scored without one.
- It is frozen: it learns nothing from 2026 until a deliberate refit.
- A coach hired in December needs his background (age, alma mater, the state he was born in) added before his first game, or he shows as not rated.
Fans
Fan chatter
- Oct 24W 28-10 vs. Michigan State
Bob Chesney is almost always the first one out there for his injured guys, you can see why they love this dude
UCLA fan - Oct 17W 17-7 vs. Wisconsin
Whenever I feel self doubt, I remember to believe in the Bob Chesney who believes in me.
UCLA fan - Oct 10W 17-15 at Oregon
Is it a well know fact that Chesney would have accepted the psu job if offered? I’m not very tuned in
UCLA fan
Earlier weeks
- Sep 26W 54-3 at Maryland
I love Bob Chesney
UCLA fan - Sep 19W 52-38 vs. Purdue
Bob chesney is god
UCLA fan - Sep 12W 28-10 vs. San Diego State
I LOVE BOB CHESNEY
UCLA fan - Sep 5W 45-24 at California
I'm jealous of Bob Chesney Sr - being able to follow your kid around and kinda help out while he does his fun high-profile job all over the country.
UCLA fan
Many stories about him this week
Sat Nov 7: Minnesota
18th of 104 FBS head coaches · from many outlets and r/CFB
Bill Simmons offers insight into UCLA, Bob Chesney contract extension
247Sports +2 Nov 2 · a few outlets
All 3 articles
Job talk is up: several stories in the last two weeks, from one story the two weeks before.
What they’re talking about
The headlines for each topic are on the News tab.
Dozens of stories about him this season
from dozens of outlets and r/CFB
UCLA surges in fourth quarter to open Bob Chesney era with win over Cal
A to Z Sports +4 Sep 6 · several outlets
All 5 articles
What they’re talking about
The headlines for each topic are on the News tab.
What was said at each stop
Stories we tracked, by school.
UCLADozens of stories2026 to now
Most about: press conference and quotes, win, quarterback and depth chart.
- A to Z Sports +4UCLA surges in fourth quarter to open Bob Chesney era with win over CalSep 6
All 5 articles
Yahoo SportsUCLA surges in fourth quarter to open Bob Chesney era with win over CalA to Z SportsUCLA's win over Cal to open the Bob Chesney Era sends a strong message that the rest of the Big Ten can't overlookLos Angeles Times‘It was a lot of fun.’ UCLA surges late, opens Bob Chesney era with win over CalDaily BreezeUCLA football opens Bob Chesney era with win over CalLos Angeles Daily NewsUCLA football opens Bob Chesney era with victory over Cal - 247Sports +2Bill Simmons offers insight into UCLA, Bob Chesney contract extensionNov 2
- ABC30 Fresno +2Ex-Raiders QB Derek Carr joins UCLA's coaching staff as special adviser to Bob ChesneyAug 10
- USA Today +1Dan Lanning says Bob Chesney offered to check on Dante Moore in hospital: 'Pretty amazing'Sep 30
- UCLA Wire +1Bob Chesney's former school earns votes in first Coaches Poll of 2026Aug 4
All 2 articles
James MadisonMany stories2024 to 2025
Most about: recruiting, conference and schedule, quarterback and depth chart.
Sports Illustrated +1Bob Chesney Opens Up About His Journey to UCLAJun 20All 2 articles
Sports IllustratedBob Chesney Opens Up About His Journey to UCLAYahoo SportsBob Chesney Opens Up About His Journey to UCLA
Locked OnThe Enemy wants Penn State to Promote Terry Smith?! + Bob Chesney Becoming Penn State's only OptionNov 26- Locked OnUSC humliates Nico Iamaleava & UCLA Football to end dreadful Season! Is Bob Chesney Next?Dec 10
- Locked OnUcla’s new ERA: Bob Chesney rises as Mick Cronin’s Bruins collapse?! Big Wins & Big Questions!Feb 27
- Locked OnNico Iamaleava is ranked low in Big Ten QB Rankings! Can Bob Chesney fully unlock QB1?Mar 14
Could another school hire him? What has he said?
Across his career
249 stories about him across 3 seasons
Stories are headlines grouped by what they are about, counted through Nov 4.
Stats
Big games
Pick a job to see its years on their own.
The big-game ledger
How he does in the games that matter most — rivalry record, performance broken out by real opponent tier, one-score games, and his toughest historical matchup.
2-0 against his rivals at James Madison.
The big-game ledger
How he does in the games that matter most — rivalry record, performance broken out by real opponent tier, one-score games, and his toughest historical matchup.
Signature games
Tags describe each game; they aren’t scores. The weighting that picks these games is still being tested.
The big-game ledger
How he does in the games that matter most — rivalry record, performance broken out by real opponent tier, one-score games, and his toughest historical matchup.
2-0 against his rivals.
Signature games
Tags describe each game; they aren’t scores. The weighting that picks these games is still being tested.
ATS is his record against the spread: did his team beat the closing betting line, winning by more than it or losing by less? Lines start in 2013; a dash means fewer than 6 of those games had one. One-score games carry no spread record: a big favorite that wins a close game has almost always failed to cover, so that number would say nothing about the coach.
Style position and drift
Where each stint’s offense sat between run-first and pass-first, and how far it moved from one season to the next, against the FBS-wide average of 41% pass. The band is that stint’s real season-to-season range, not a fixed-width box.
Building the roster
Four numbers on how he actually stocks a roster, from signing day to draft day.
His recruiting, really
None of his UCLA classes is ranked and fully his yet. Across his other stops, his own classes averaged #108 nationally.
James MadisonUCLAAcross every program: 1 ranked class of his own, averaging #108 nationally.
His class — he had the full signing cycleTransition — he was hired mid-cycle
Rank is each signing class’s national recruiting rank (#1 is best). Only a class he had a full signing cycle to build counts as his; inherited and mid-transition classes still show here, faded, but stay out of the average.
Followed him here
James Madison→UCLA2026- Aiden Gobaira DL
- Carter Sweazie OL
- DJ Barksdale DB
- Drew Spinogatti LB
- JD Rayner OL
- Josh Phifer TE
- Landon Ellis WR
- Riley Robell OL
- Sahir West DL
- Trent Hendrick LB
- Wayne Knight RB
Players who transferred from his old program to his new one through the portal in the same year he made the move. Name-matching across data sources misses some, so every count is a floor, not an exact number.
Roster ownership
Roster ownership
of his 2026 roster arrived on his watch — 64 of 121 players. The other 57 are holdovers from before he was hired.
Of his own players on this roster, 55% came through the transfer portal; the rest are non-portal arrivals (high-school signees, JUCO transfers, walk-ons).
Everyone he has brought in, 2026–2026Counting players who have since left: 55% of the 64 arrivals we can classify came through the portal.
“His own” means the player arrived while he was head coach; “inherited” means a predecessor brought him in.
Where he recruits
is his biggest recruiting state: 14 of 21 signees (67%) across his 2026–2026 tenure, drawn from 6 states in all. Next: CO (3).
67% of his signees come from CA and its 3 border states.
Off this map: 2 signees to the east (AL, MA).
- median hometown distance
- 337 mi
- within 100 mi
- 41%
- within 500 mi
- 56%
- beyond 1,000 mi
- 36%
The map counts signed recruits across his tenure; the distance figures cover his current roster, transfers and walk-ons included. Two different groups, kept separate on purpose.
News
Stories about him
Headlines, grouped by what they are about. Each is the outlet’s own.
This week
Press conference and quotes
- On3Head coach Bob Chesney after UCLA blanks Nevada, 27-0Oct 31
- Yahoo Sports“Bob Chesney Not Staying at UCLA,” “So Embarrassing”: Fans React to Lack of Crowd at Bruins vs. Nevada Wolf Pack Football GameNov 1
- On3UCLA head coach Bob Chesney shares first thoughts on MinnesotaNov 2
- 247SportsEverything Bob Chesney said Monday after UCLA's 27-0 win over NevadaNov 2
- On3UCLA center Riley Robell not surprised by instant success of Bob ChesneyNov 2
Hot seat
- Yahoo SportsUCLA coach Bob Chesney’s savage reaction to lack of Rose Bowl crowd: ‘There’s no noise’Oct 31
- New York PostUCLA coach Bob Chesney has interesting reaction to ‘noise’Oct 31
This season
Press conference and quotes
- USA Today +1What does Derek Carr bring to UCLA football? Coach Bob Chesney explainsAug 11
Los Angeles Times +1Former James Madison players say Bob Chesney inspired their challenging moves to UCLAAug 24All 2 articles
- UCLA Wire +1Bob Chesney says new linebacker Trent Hendrick will play Week 1Aug 25
All 2 articles
- UCLA Wire +1UCLA's Bob Chesney speaks highly of the San Diego State rushing attackSep 11
Bleacher Report'Burn the F--king Boats,' UCLA HC Bob Chesney's Intense Speech Before Oregon Upset Shown in VideoOct 13
Win
- A to Z Sports +4UCLA surges in fourth quarter to open Bob Chesney era with win over CalSep 6
All 5 articles
Yahoo SportsUCLA surges in fourth quarter to open Bob Chesney era with win over CalA to Z SportsUCLA's win over Cal to open the Bob Chesney Era sends a strong message that the rest of the Big Ten can't overlookLos Angeles Times‘It was a lot of fun.’ UCLA surges late, opens Bob Chesney era with win over CalDaily BreezeUCLA football opens Bob Chesney era with win over CalLos Angeles Daily NewsUCLA football opens Bob Chesney era with victory over Cal - Los Angeles Times +1Swanson: Bob Chesney's gutty Bruins pushed to beat Cal and gave UCLA fans a reason believeSep 6
- Los Angeles Times +1Swanson: UCLA isn't perfect, but fans can trust Bob Chesney's Bruins to fight for winsSep 13
- The Sporting Tribune‘Win, lose, or get beat’: UCLA turning small details into big results under Bob ChesneyAug 19
- 247SportsUCLA football position grades in 45-24 win over Cal: Bruins win big in Bob Chesney debutSep 6
Quarterback and depth chart
- ABC30 Fresno +2Ex-Raiders QB Derek Carr joins UCLA's coaching staff as special adviser to Bob ChesneyAug 10
- Yahoo Sports +1College football's battle for LA: As USC and Lincoln Riley run out of excuses, Bob Chesney has UCLA dreaming big again: 'We've awoken the masses'Aug 28
All 2 articles
Yahoo SportsCollege football's battle for LA: As USC and Lincoln Riley run out of excuses, Bob Chesney has UCLA dreaming big again: 'We've awoken the masses'Yahoo Sports UKCollege football's battle for LA: As USC and Lincoln Riley run out of excuses, Bob Chesney has UCLA dreaming big again: 'We've awoken the masses' - Los Angeles Times +1Prep talk: Former Kennedy QB Diego Montes refused to be denied meeting with UCLA coach Bob ChesneySep 2
- UCLA Wire'Feel the winning culture,' UCLA QB Iamaleava confident in HC ChesneyAug 2
- UCLA Wire'No fake energy,' UCLA HC Chesney has kept it real with QB IamaleavaAug 4
Conference and schedule
- UCLA Wire +1Bob Chesney's former school earns votes in first Coaches Poll of 2026Aug 4
All 2 articles
- Trojans Wire +1Behind Enemy Lines: Will Bob Chesney make the playoff at UCLA?Aug 14
All 2 articles
- UCLA Wire +1Bob Chesney is educating UCLA on importance of playing at Rose BowlSep 15
- Los Angeles Times +1UCLA braces for first Big Ten test of coach Bob Chesney's tenureSep 18
All 2 articles
- UCLA Wire +1UCLA football is in the AP Poll for the first time under Bob ChesneySep 28
All 2 articles
Profile and feature
- Sports Illustrated +1UCLA's Chesney Has Chance To Continue JMU Pipeline SuccessAug 9
All 2 articles
Sports IllustratedUCLA's Chesney Has Chance To Continue JMU Pipeline SuccessYahoo SportsUCLA's Chesney Has Chance To Continue JMU Pipeline Success - New York Post +1Why Bob Chesney’s debut provides a crystal ball to his UCLA futureSep 5
All 3 articles
- Currently.com +1James Madison football coaching timeline: How Bob Chesney built on Curt Cignetti's successOct 9
- Los Angeles TimesUCLA Unlocked: Why Bob Chesney puts special effort into special teamsAug 24
- 247SportsBob Chesney on the Addition of Trent Hendrick, How He Fits Into the Team -- ExcerptAug 25
Game preview
- Yahoo SportsUCLA coach Bob Chesney attempts to avoid setback vs. fringe Big Ten bowl team this fallAug 14
- New York PostSurprising predictions for every UCLA football game in Bob Chesney’s debut seasonSep 5
- Yahoo SportsBob Chesney awarded with the game ball after UCLA's Week 1 winSep 6
- UCLA WireUCLA senior Jalen Woods had 'phenomenal' game vs. SDSU per Bob ChesneySep 16
- Yahoo SportsUCLA news: Bruins' strong outing vs. Maryland has everyone buying into Bob ChesneySep 26
What others say about him
Every quote, back to August 2026
What others say
UCLA’s going to extend Bob Chesney
UCLA is going to extend Bob Chesney. That’s in the works.
In his own words
I’ve said it before, this is the greatest place in the world to play football and it’s the greatest place in the world to coach football
When someone goes down and someone has to step up, I say it every single time… you’re either exposed or you’re revealed
Nothing, he just got stepped on is what it looked like out there
I’ve never looked at the odds of what a game is or what any of that stuff is
We can’t try to be something different
We’ve been talking about this for a very long time
When you see it, it’s certainly egregious
He threw some really nice, accurate footballs – catchable footballs
He stepped up in the moment where we need him to. At the same point in time, he commanded the offense very, very well. What got him there is we’re looking at this on a week-to-week basis. And he had a really good week of practice. He did a really good job, and he brings a lot to the table.
I didn’t see it because it was on their sideline, but when you see it, it’s certainly egregious
Our guys did a really good job
It was a big part of it, and we didn’t have to bring a whole lot more than the four
Ultimately, they’re very similar
He (Johnson) can catch everything in his general vicinity
They’re both very, very good football players. You can’t really think one way or the other who’s going to be out there and who’s not
We’re capable of that complementary game of football
That’s a position where you’re trying to take hits of guys
Some of it came off of play action game
The quarterback (Browne) and his timing with the receivers – the routes they ran, the precision and the places he put it – couldn’t really get much pressure
We got to start much, much faster
They’re either going to be revealed for the work they’ve done up to this point, or they’re going to be exposed for the work they did not do
We need this community to come out and support at a level that they’ve never done in the past bunch of years
This is a game that you have to play with some emotion
I really like where we’re sitting
I think you got to fight and scratch and claw for everything that you got, and you got to bring these kids together as quickly as you possibly can that maybe never played together before, and with coaches that maybe never coached together before
We are excited to welcome Derek to our program
Ultimately, procedural discipline was a big part of what we want to make sure we’re constantly talking about
He’s a complete back
Career
Hires into jobs like this
Hired into programs rated 39 to 39 (National Program I tier). Rough match, not calibrated yet — ranked on what the job inherited alone. Coaches hired into this same job aren’t used as comps.
- Tim Skipper20253–6-3.5
- Deshaun Foster20245–7-0.2
- Chip Kelly20183–9-2.7
- Jim Mora20129–5+2.6
- Rick Neuheisel20084–8-3.9
- Karl Dorrell20036–7-3.0
- Bob Toledo19965–6-1.7
- Terry Donahue19769–2+0.7
Coaching career
The arc of his career is on Now.
Steady no large move in either direction on our stature ladder
Followed Tim Skipper (2025).
Brings in bigger-than-position-typical players than most.
Recruits younger transfers than most — more of a development bet.
Followed Curt Cignetti (2022–2023) · succeeded by Billy Napier (2026–now).
| Season | 2024 | 2025 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||
| Record | 9-4 | 12-2 | |
| Postseason | W bowl | CFP loss | |
| Coordinators | |||
| OC | Dean Kennedy | Dean Kennedy | |
| DC | Lyle Hemphill | Colin Hitschler | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||
| Offense | 32 | 89 | |
| Defense | 91 | 93 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||
| 1st-down pass% | 45.9 | 39.2 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 39.3 | 26.4 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 45.0 | 36.4 | |
Outperforms his recruiting talent, on both sides of the ball.
A portal-built roster.
Brings in smaller-than-position-typical players than most.
Recruits older, more experienced transfers than most.
Coach of the Year: Sun Belt Coach of the Year (2025)
AI Narratives — “James Madison Ascends” and 4 more on the team page.