UCLA nearing long-term extension for Bob Chesney, report says
The No. 4 Bruins are 9-0 and approaching a potential first College Football Playoff appearance under the 49-year-old coach.
UCLA is close to agreeing to a long-term contract extension with head coach Bob Chesney, according to The Athletic, as the unbeaten Bruins pursue their first College Football Playoff appearance. The 49-year-old has guided UCLA to a 9-0 record and the No. 4 national ranking.
The Bruins are preparing to host Illinois, with Michigan and No. 18 USC also on their remaining three-game schedule. UCLA is among just two unbeaten Power Four teams and is enjoying its best start since 1998, the season it claimed the PAC-10 title and reached the Rose Bowl.
UCLA's rushing average of 213.2 yards per game tops the Big Ten, while its 27 takeaways put it first nationally entering the week. Wayne Knight, who moved from James Madison with Chesney, leads the conference with 789 rushing yards and has scored 15 touchdowns.
Before arriving at UCLA, Chesney spent two seasons at James Madison. He delivered the program's first bowl win in 2024, then an 8-0 Sun Belt Conference campaign and its first playoff berth in 2025. Earlier, he took over at Holy Cross in 2018 and won five consecutive Patriot League championships.
