The first major coaching shakeup of the 2025 college football season is underway, and the UCLA Bruins are at the center of it. After a disastrous 0-3 start capped by a 35-10 home loss to New Mexico, the Bruins parted ways with DeShaun Foster over the weekend. Foster, a former UCLA star promoted from running backs coach just seven months ago, lasted only three games before athletic director Martin Jarmond made the call to move on.
Now, the speculation has begun — and oddsmakers wasted no time linking some of the sport’s biggest names to Westwood.
Jon Gruden and Deion Sanders Lead the Early Odds
Is it a great day to be alive and to be a Bruin?
BetOnline.ag released the first odds for UCLA’s next full-time head coach. Former NFL coach Jon Gruden tops the list at 4-1, while Colorado’s Deion Sanders follows closely behind at 5-1.
Other notable names include Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham (6-1), California coach Justin Wilcox (8-1), and former Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees (10-1). Baylor’s Dave Aranda and former Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher sit further down the board at 12-1.
The longshot tier is filled with both active and retired legends: former USC coach Lane Kiffin (25-1), Utah’s Kyle Whittingham (40-1), Clemson’s Dabo Swinney (45-1), Ohio State’s Ryan Day (50-1), and even retired figures like Pete Carroll (75-1), Troy Aikman (80-1), and Rick Neuheisel (100-1).
Coach Prime’s Star Power
While Gruden’s name brings intrigue, it’s Deion Sanders who is driving the national conversation. Sanders, now in his third season at Colorado, has become one of the most influential figures in college football. His leadership helped elevate the Buffaloes into the spotlight with quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Heisman winner Travis Hunter, though both have since moved on to the NFL.
Even with Colorado starting 1-2 this season, Sanders’ larger-than-life persona and NFL Hall of Fame résumé make him a natural fit for a city built on celebrity. Oddsmakers giving him 5-1 odds only amplifies the buzz around the possibility of “Coach Prime” in blue and gold.
According to The Sporting Tribune, Sanders is considered a serious contender: “Deion Sanders has 5-1 odds to take over as the head coach for the UCLA Bruins after the program fired DeShaun Foster.”
Gruden’s Name Resurfaces
Gruden has been a fixture in coaching rumors for years, and his name is once again circulating following UCLA’s opening. Fans quickly flooded social media with calls for the former Raiders coach to be considered.
“UCLA should throw the bag at Jon Gruden,” one comment read. Another added, “Just saw UCLA fired DeShaun Foster. They should consider calling Jon Gruden. He would inject some fire into the program.”
During his NFL career, Gruden compiled a 117-112 record and delivered a Super Bowl win with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002. He hasn’t coached since resigning from the Raiders in 2021, but has publicly stated his interest in returning. “I want to coach again. I’d die to coach in the SEC,” Gruden once said, though UCLA now presents a different kind of opportunity.
What Comes Next for UCLA
For now, interim coach Tim Skipper will lead the Bruins, but the spotlight is already fixed on what’s next. The program hasn’t been able to establish consistent footing since Chip Kelly’s departure, and Foster’s short-lived tenure only deepened the sense of urgency.
UCLA faces pressure not just to win games but to make a hire that resonates in Los Angeles, a market that demands both results and star power. Whether the Bruins pursue the proven NFL pedigree of Jon Gruden or the electric charisma of Deion Sanders, the direction they choose will send a clear signal about their vision for the program.
With Virginia Tech also firing Brent Pry after an 0-3 start, UCLA won’t be the only school in the market. But the Bruins’ history, resources, and Los Angeles stage ensure that their coaching search will be one of the most closely watched in college football.