As UCLA ready to attempt to topple its highest-ranked opponent in almost 20 years, one coach talked in regards to the challenges of beating an undefeated workforce, of stopping its vaunted speeding assault, of halting its fast begins.
The coach was Curt Cignetti.
His workforce simply occurred to be No. 2 Indiana, the pop-up juggernaut that the Bruins will attempt to take down on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
“We’re playing a 3-0 football team that’s undefeated, that’s 3-0 in the conference since they have retooled their staff,” Cignetti advised reporters. “Very impressive football team.”
So startling is the transformation that the Bruins have made since their winless begin that they’re those now being praised by the coach of one of many nation’s high groups.
Surging UCLA (3-4 total, 3-1 Massive Ten) is simply the third Massive Ten workforce to lose its first 4 video games and win its subsequent three, becoming a member of 1963 Indiana and 2001 Penn State.
In fact, the Bruins hope the parallels finish there provided that these Hoosiers went on to lose their ultimate two video games and people Nittany Lions completed with a dropping document.
Cignetti made the 2025 Bruins sound like a workforce for the ages, mentioning that they have been averaging 233 yards speeding per recreation during the last three video games whereas dominating the time of possession battle and outscoring opponents 58-17 within the first half over that very same span.
UCLA will head right into a nationally televised “Big Noon” showdown in opposition to Indiana (7-0, 4-0) having already taken down a top-10 workforce this season, although their 42-37 victory over then-No. 7 Penn State earlier this month has misplaced appreciable luster given the Nittany Lions’ ensuing free fall.
Luckily for the Bruins, interim coach Tim Skipper performed for Pat Hill at Fresno State, that means he embraces the “Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere” mindset that made the scrappy Bulldogs a nationwide phenomenon due to their fearlessness.
UCLA vast receiver Kwazi Gilmer catches a cross over Maryland defensive again Jamare Glasker in the course of the Bruins’ win on Oct. 18.
(Harry How / Getty Photographs)
“That’s always part of me; I’ve been brainwashed that way, to be honest with you,” Skipper mentioned. “But, yeah, I mean, to me, once the whistle blows, it’s just us against you. I mean, it’s time to go. Let’s see who had the better week of practice, let’s see who’s more prepared, let’s see who wants this thing. So that’s how I see it. We’re going to kick it off, we’re going to have to be ready to strain for every inch and let’s see what happens.”
Requested to evaluate Indiana, Skipper heaped reward upon a workforce that’s among the many greatest within the nation in nearly each main statistical class.
“I am still trying to identify weaknesses,” Skipper mentioned. “Like, it is crazy how disciplined they are.”
UCLA final beat a workforce ranked as excessive as Indiana in a recreation that many Bruins followers will eternally cherish — their 13-9 overcome No. 2 USC in 2006 on the Rose Bowl.
A recruiting win
At a time of nice uncertainty, when it could be straightforward for UCLA’s employees to fret extra about their very own futures than these of highschool prospects who might by no means play for them, the Bruins have continued to recruit.
Join UCLA Unlocked
They landed one other verbal dedication Monday from Travis Robertson, an offensive deal with from West Bloomfield, Mich., who was beforehand dedicated to Bowling Inexperienced.
“They have shown me that no matter what situation they are in,” Robertson advised The Instances, “they will always get the job done with the coaching staff and players. And I’m rooting for this staff 100%.”
UCLA’s employees has additionally continued to pursue recruits who’ve backed out of their verbal commitments, together with Cooper Javorsky, an offensive lineman from San Juan Hills Excessive who hung out visiting with offensive line coach Andy Kwon earlier than the Bruins’ recreation in opposition to Maryland final weekend.
“We’re grinding over here, we’re not letting anything go to waste or not giving effort in one area or another,” Skipper mentioned of his employees’s recruiting efforts. “It’s full speed in everything that we’re doing.”
UCLA’s 2026 recruiting class is presently ranked No. 78 nationally by 247Sports.com, with 12 gamers dedicated.
Damage updates
Skipper mentioned he would wait to additional assess quarterback Nico Iamaleava and operating backs Anthony Woods and Jaivian Thomas earlier than offering harm updates.
Iamaleava returned from an obvious proper knee harm sustained late within the recreation in opposition to Maryland to steer the Bruins on their successful drive. Woods and Thomas have been sidelined after “both guys kind of got rolled up on,” Skipper mentioned.
