UCLA is looking for a replacement for recently fired coach Rick Neuheisel, but their reported first choice won't be talking to the Bruins any time soon.

UCLA inquired about Boise State coach Chris Petersen, but the school has been told he will not be a candidate, a source told ESPN.com's Joe Schad.

Petersen would have been the first coach UCLA approached about their vacancy, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Newly hired Boise State athletic director Mark Coyle made it known in his introductory news conference Thursday that keeping Petersen was one of his top priorities.

"My No. 1 goal is to keep Chris Petersen at Boise State University," Coyle said. "He's raised the bar. How do we help him move the needle and take it to the next level?"

UCLA will play Oregon Friday in the Pac-12 championship game and Neuheisel, fired on Monday, will coach. He had his final practice with the team on Wednesday.

"I'm excited as can be about traveling with this team one more time and I'm looking forward to a great effort on Friday night," he said. "I don't have any idea how this thing will go except we're playing a damn good football team in a tough environment ... hopefully we can catch lightning in a bottle."

Information from ESPNLosAngeles.com's Peter Yoon and The Associated Press was used in this report.