In Reply to: We're #7!! In the TV ratings. posted by mh on January 26, 2026 at 17:01:10
This is something I’ve been saying for a couple of years now. UCLA consistently draws strong national viewership-even in football-often ranking near the top in television ratings. Given that level of exposure, it’s fair to ask why that doesn’t translate more clearly into NIL dollars.
I recently listened to a podcast with Jeff Goodman where he hinted at an article he wrote surveying Big Ten coaches on which jobs they view as the best in the conference. I’m still waiting to read the full piece, but in his quick preview he didn’t even include UCLA in the top five. The group discussing it—which included Robby Hummel—didn’t mention UCLA at all. Instead, they cited Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, and even talked about Ohio State and Maryland. How does a program that consistently draws top-seven TV ratings and employs a coach who is reportedly paid among the top five in the country not get viewed as a premier coaching destination?
What’s most baffling is the broader context. This is the No. 1 most applied-to university in the country and a school that dominates Olympic sports within the conference. Somehow, the very best athletes across nearly every sport want to come to UCLA, yet the perception—at least in basketball circles—is that UCLA isn’t a top-tier destination. That disconnect is hard to wrap your head around.