As Penn State continues its search for a new head coach, the list of available contenders is shrinking fast. One of the most discussed names in the coaching market is now expected to be off the table after another Big Ten program moved quickly to secure its future leader.
UCLA is reportedly preparing to hire James Madison head coach Bob Chesney, a highly regarded figure who has been attracting attention across the college football landscape. Chesney stepped in after Curt Cignetti departed for Indiana and successfully kept the Dukes performing at an elite level.
James Madison is set to compete for the Sun Belt Conference championship this week. A win there, combined with a favorable outcome in the ACC title game involving Duke, could even open the door for the Dukes to make an unexpected appearance in the College Football Playoff.
UCLA was among the earliest programs to make a coaching change during the 2025 season. The decision came shortly before Penn State dismissed James Franklin notably, a week after UCLA delivered a decisive victory over the Nittany Lions.
Meanwhile, Michigan State has also entered the coaching shuffle, parting ways with Jonathan Smith. Multiple reports suggest that the Spartans are targeting former Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald as their next leader, and that an agreement may already be taking shape.
Penn State, for its part, is believed to be intensifying talks with BYU head coach Kalani Sitake. However, any potential move involving Sitake could be delayed, as BYU is scheduled to play in the Big 12 Championship Game this weekend. If a transition is going to happen, it may not be announced until after that matchup is complete.
For now, Penn State remains in a holding pattern, waiting as other programs finalize their decisions. What is clear, though, is that UCLA appears to have found its man, removing yet another name from the already-thinning list of options.
