DeShaun Foster‘s sacking might lead to a domino effect at UCLA. After Week 3, when an unlikely New Mexico team demolished UCLA with a devastating 25-point margin loss at 35-10, the school initiated this series of firings. The Big 10 member’s loss to the Mountain West made the board of directors conclude that the team needed a change. And Josh Pate believes that changes will be required from the very top, as the next in the line of fire could very well be Martin Jarmond, the athletic director himself.

Foster’s contract termination came as no surprise. UCLA paid New Mexico $1.2 million to play at the Rose Bowl Stadium and then lost 35–10. This left the team with a 0-3 record. Speaking on the matter, Pate said, “I don’t really blame Deshaun Foster because he never should have had the job.” on the Josh Pate’s College Football Show. He continued by saying that a “completely inept athletic director offered him the job,” a pretty obvious reference to Martin Jarmond.

Pate shared his thoughts on who might be fired next, and he seems to know it’s Martin Jarmond. “I don’t think that athletic director will be afforded the opportunity to offer anyone else the job, because knowing some of the internals around UCLA, like I do now that I’ve spoken to some people out there, I think there’s probably a healthy amount of churn just above and beyond the head coaching position that’s coming,” said Pate.

Meanwhile, ironically, Jarmond and Erin Adkins, UCLA’s senior associate AD, are set to compile a committee of ‘accomplished sports and business executives and UCLA greats’ to aid in the search for the next HC. And Jarmond is excited. “You know, first and foremost, it’s got to be someone who exemplars our true Bruin values–respect, integrity, and just understands those four letters,” he said in a presser. “We’ll be looking for a coach, quite frankly, who sees the vision to take UCLA to the playoffs. We want to win at the highest level.”

But if the tables turn and UCLA fires Jarmond, it would mean a complete makeover is underway. Their record since joining the Big Ten in 2024 has been abysmal, to say the least. Add in this season’s performance to the mix, and you get a team that has not had a successful opening season since 2024. Pate also pointed out UCLA’s fan base, calling them “apathetic“.  “The NIL situation is such that they’re way more organized for basketball than they are for football. But hey, you get to play in the Big 10. So glad that we broke the Pack 12 apart for this, by the way. Just fantastic job by all parties involved out there. Bravo,” mocked Pate.

What’s next for UCLA after the possible Martin Jarmond sacking?

If the rumors do come true, and Martin Jarmond gets fired from UCLA, then who will take the helm? Who will replace Jarmond and Foster? For now, Tim Skipper, UCLA’s special assistant to the head coach, will serve as the Bruins’ interim head coach. But the questions around the bigger coaching picture remain unanswered. “So, where are they going to go on this job? Because I don’t know how attractive this job is. You’ve got to get your administrative affairs in order before you hire a head coach. I don’t even know who’s going to hire the head coach right now,” said Pate.

He continued his take by saying that UCLA needs to “Get someone from the south who is completely off his rocker 25 hours a day invested in recruiting.” He continued to talk about potential candidates, saying, “There’s a guy in Eugene, Oregon, who lives that life. And I’m not saying there’s another Dan Lanning around the corner. That’s your blueprint.”

Josh Pate also emphasized that a change would not come in overnight, and UCLA needs a man who can be a strong presence in the locker room. “Find that kind of guy and get him out on the West Coast, and he’s going to make some people uncomfortable. He’s going to wake some people up, and there may be some dead fruit on the tree that he’s got to shake loose. It’s not going to be an overnight turnaround because you didn’t drive it in the gutter overnight.” If UCLA wants to stop being a punching bag of the Big Ten, then it needs to sort out its administrative issues.