UCLA's New Football Coach Promises Big Ten Title

Bob Chesney tells fans the Bruins are "about to win a Big Ten championship"

Jan. 31, 2026 at 5:07pm

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In his first month on the job, new UCLA football coach Bob Chesney made a bold promise to fans during a basketball game, telling them the Bruins are "about to win a Big Ten championship." Chesney, who previously led James Madison to the College Football Playoff, is tasked with turning around a UCLA program that last won a conference title in 1998.

Why it matters

UCLA has struggled in football for decades, last winning a conference championship in 1998 when they were still in the Pac-12. Chesney's confident proclamation signals he believes he can quickly transform the Bruins into a Big Ten powerhouse, which would be a major accomplishment given the conference's recent dominance in college football.

The details

During a timeout at a UCLA basketball game against Indiana, new head football coach Bob Chesney took the court to address the fans. He praised the school and his coaching staff, then boldly declared, "I want you to support this thing, understand what we're building and understand that we're about to win a Big Ten championship." The crowd roared in approval, as UCLA has not won a conference title in 28 years.

  • Chesney was hired as UCLA's new head football coach in late 2025.
  • He made his promise to fans during a UCLA basketball game on January 31, 2026.

The players

Bob Chesney

The new head football coach at UCLA, who previously led James Madison to the College Football Playoff.

DeShaun Foster

The former UCLA head football coach who was let go during the 2025 season, paving the way for Chesney's hiring.

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What they’re saying

“I've been here for about a month now and I've looked around and there's nothing average that I've seen about UCLA. There is nothing average. And I did not come here to be average. You did not come here. I want you to support this thing, understand what we're building and understand that we're about to win a Big Ten championship.”

— Bob Chesney, Head Football Coach (on3.com)

What’s next

Chesney and the Bruins will look to make good on his bold promise as they prepare for the 2026 season, their first in the Big Ten conference.

The takeaway

Bob Chesney's confident declaration that UCLA will soon win a Big Ten championship signals his belief that he can quickly turn the Bruins into a powerhouse program. However, the school has not won a conference title in nearly three decades, so Chesney faces a significant challenge in backing up his bold words on the field.