With the rapid rise of NIL deals and the transfer portal in college sports, teams now need to strengthen their financial strategies. To ensure their programs have the resources needed, teams rely on boosters making substantial investments. Whether it’s Dave Portnoy or Cody Campbell, these supporters all contribute to their favorite teams. For example, a longtime UCLA booster recently donated a massive $10 million.

UCLA got a big boost after former student Angelo Mazzone III donated $10 million to the football program. This money will help create a special fund for the head coach, Bob Chesney, and improve support for players, helping the team perform better. Mazzone has been connected to UCLA for a very long time, about five decades.

He studied at UCLA and completed both his bachelor’s and law degrees there. Then Mazzone started giving back to the university in 1977 and has continued to support it over the years. In 2023, he also pledged $1 million to UCLA Athletics. For him, doing things for his alma mater matters the most, as he explains the reason behind this move.

“UCLA has been responsible for all the greatest things that have happened in my life,” Mazzone said. “Much of what I have accomplished is going right back there. I am indebted to the relationships I’ve enjoyed with so many very special people as part of the UCLA Football family.”

Angelo Mazzone joined in 1968 as a football manager and later worked in important roles like assistant and associate athletic director. Even after leaving UCLA in 1982 to focus on his business career, he stayed very close to the team and continued supporting them, rarely missing their games.

Now, with this new $10 million donation, he is making one of his biggest contributions to help the future of UCLA football and its players. It will also improve important areas like players’ studies, health, training, and overall experience in the program. Because of his backing, UCLA can hire and keep good coaches more easily. They can also bring in five-star players like Michigan brought Bryce Underwood to the team with Portnoy’s support.

One of the major issues is their financial pressure. UCLA’s athletic department has been losing money for years and has built up about $219 million in debt. On top of that, they now have to share around $20.5 million every year with players, which puts even more strain on their budget. Now, this money can help them distribute it well among the players.

The team got almost 41 transfer portal players this season, and managing finances between them is a tough task. But another task for Bob Chesney and his team is to keep their players intact. UCLA has a long history of players decommitting from the team for better paychecks. Last year, former UCLA quarterback Troy Aikman spoke about giving money to a player who later left the team for a better opportunity without showing any gratitude.

“I gave money to a kid, I won’t mention who,” Aikman said last year. “I’ve done it one time at UCLA, never met the young man. He was there for a year, and he left after the year. I wrote a sizable check, and he went to another school. I didn’t even get so much as a thank-you note. So, it’s one of those deals where I’m done with NIL. I want to see UCLA be successful, but I’m done with it.”

But even in this chaotic setup, there are people like Mazzone who are nothing but happy to give it all back to his team. With financial backing, the team is slowly developing too.

Bob Chesney’s team is gaining momentum

UCLA is starting the 2026 season with new energy because of head coach Bob Chesney. He is changing the team by adding many new players and trying to fix things after a poor 3-9 season. There is some hope this year. With better players and a new system, UCLA could win more games, maybe even double its wins to around six.

However, rankings still show they have work to do. ESPN’s SP+ puts UCLA at No. 12 out of 18 teams in the Big Ten. Their overall score is 46, with average ratings in offense (52), defense (54), and weaker special teams (71). 247Sports’ Isaiah Hole explains the entire situation.

“Another team with a ton of returning experience, and a new coaching staff led by Bob Chesney, there’s a lot to like about the Bruins this season, especially if Chesney can get the most out of Nico Iamaleava,” Hole said. “UCLA has tended to oscillate from really good to really bad, with little in between, but the last time it was really good was in the Pac-12, and not in the Big Ten.”

It’s pretty clear that they do have potential with players like QB Nico Iamaleava, kicker Mateen Bhaghani, and long snapper Salem Abdul-Wahab, but it all depends on how well the team performs in the 2026 season.