The Heat Is On UCLA Head Coach DeShaun Foster After Shocking Loss To New Mexico

After a crushing 35-10 loss to the New Mexico Lobos on Friday in front of a sparse Rose Bowl crowd, the UCLA Bruins are now a disastrous 0-3, leaving fans and players alike searching for answers and turning up the heat on head coach DeShaun Foster. “It blows my mind,” Foster said, reflecting on the team’s repeated mistakes. “It’s something I’ve never been around, and we’re going to figure it out.”

The sentiment is a powerful one, especially as pressure mounts on Foster. The Bruins have been outscored by a staggering 108-43 margin this season, and a shocking lack of discipline has become a recurring nightmare. The team racked up 13 penalties for 116 yards against the Lobos. 

Is DeShaun Foster’s Job On the Line?

Despite the grim 0-3 start and a personal record of 5-10 in his second season, Foster remains resolute. When asked if he felt overmatched, his response was a curt “Nope. Not at all.” He believes the talent is there, but the execution is falling short.

QB Nico Iamaleava echoed this, placing the responsibility squarely on the players’ shoulders. “We’re doing him a disservice by not performing for him,” the quarterback said. “He’s telling us everything we need to hear, he’s telling us everything we need to do, and we’re not executing as players. It all falls back on the players.”

Can UCLA Turn the Season Around?

The Bruins now head into a bye week before starting their Big Ten schedule on the road against Northwestern. It’s a critical two-week period for a team that has yet to hold a lead this season. The repeated penalties have been particularly devastating, often killing promising drives and forcing the defense back onto the field.

“We’re getting down there in the red zone… and we’re shooting ourselves in the foot with penalties that kicked us out of our rhythm,“ Iamaleava said. “It’s just messing up a lot of stuff.”

For Foster, an alumnus who has been around the program for years, the current situation is a low point. Still, he takes full ownership. “Everything that happens can fall on me,” he stated. “I’m the head coach… But what I do know is that eventually this team’s gonna play with discipline. It’s gonna happen.” For the Bruins and their embattled coach, “eventually” needs to come sooner rather than later.

Game Summary: New Mexico vs. UCLA

• Final Score: New Mexico 35, UCLA 10.
• Key Stat: UCLA committed 13 penalties for 116 yards, continuing a season-long struggle with discipline.
• Turning Point: New Mexico running back Damon Bankston’s 43-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter sealed the game, prompting an exodus of fans from the Rose Bowl.
• UCLA’s Record: The Bruins fall to 0-3 for the first time since 2019 and have not held a lead at any point this season.
• Player Support: Quarterback Nico Iamaleava strongly defended Head Coach DeShaun Foster post-game, insisting the players are not executing the game plan.