Boise State's Chris Petersen is UCLA's top target to replace the recently fired Rick Neuheisel, reports Chris Foster of the Los Angeles Times, citing unnamed "influential people with knowledge of the situation." UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero is expected to travel to Boise to make his pitch, which reportedly includes an annual contract worth more than $3 million.
Whether that's enough remains to be seen. Petersen is believed to have turned down a similar contract to replace Jim Harbaugh at Stanford -- and that was after Stanford's 11-1 season in which they ranked fourth in the BCS.
UCLA, on the other hand, is currently 6-6 and will likely finish the season with a losing record after facing Oregon in the Pac-12 championship game this coming Saturday. The only reason UCLA has a chance to play for the conference title is because of USC's self-imposed ban on postseason play due to NCAA infractions.
In six seasons at Boise State, Peterson has compiled a 71-6 record, going undefeated in 2006 and 2009. He's won four WAC championships and has gone 3-2 in bowl games, including two Fiesta Bowl wins. Boise State is currently ranked No. 9 in the BCS with a 10-1 record.