Overview
- Multiple outlets reported on Friday that UCLA has been negotiating a new contract with first-year coach Bob Chesney and is closing in on an extension.
- Chesney has led the Bruins to a 9-0 start and a No. 4 ranking in the College Football Playoff, a turnaround that has raised interest in locking him to a longer deal.
- CBS Sports says talks have been ongoing for at least a month, but sources are unnamed and UCLA has not made a formal public announcement.
- Coverage says any extension would likely include a major increase in roster funding to move spending from roughly $20 million toward levels nearer $40 million used by top Big Ten programs.
- UCLA leaders face pressure from a reported athletic department deficit and weak Rose Bowl attendance, so an extension could trigger new fundraising and budget shifts to retain momentum and deter other programs.