In accordance with Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, the second-ranked Hoosiers aren’t opposing a 3-4 UCLA workforce this week in Bloomington, Ind.
“I imply, we’re enjoying a 3-0 soccer workforce this Saturday at midday,” he mentioned.
It is true that the Bruins (3-4, 3-1 Huge Ten) have been a a lot completely different workforce since interim coach Tim Skipper took over final month. A 20-17 house win over Maryland final week was their third straight victory, a streak that began with a surprising victory over then-No. 7 Penn State after Skipper misplaced his first sport in cost.
Nonetheless, it is also true that Indiana (7-0, 4-0) is at a distinct stage from the groups UCLA has been beating these days. The Hoosiers preserve proving it week after week, climbing to their highest-ever ballot rating after a 38-13 drilling of Michigan State final week.
The standard suspects have been at work for Indiana, led by quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The Cal switch accomplished 24 of 28 passes for 332 yards and 4 touchdowns, zeroing in totally on Omar Cooper Jr., who had eight receptions for 115 yards and a rating.
The Hoosiers additionally did what they often do — cease the run and play a clear sport. They allowed solely 74 yards on the bottom and have been flagged simply as soon as for five yards. They have not been penalized greater than 45 yards in any sport this yr.
“You need them to play quick. You need them to play bodily. You need to be relentless,” Cignetti mentioned of his gamers. “However you bought to be good. You bought to make selections and selections out on the soccer subject, proper? You by no means need a rise in these penalties.”
The one issues growing for Indiana below Cignetti are factors and wins. Mendoza is enjoying at a Heisman Trophy stage, finishing 73.5% of his passes for 1,755 yards with 21 touchdowns and solely two interceptions. The Hoosiers’ common of 43.9 factors per sport is tied for fourth within the nation.
This matchup would have been seen as a snoozer by most till the Bruins’ sudden surge. Regardless of that, Indiana is a three-touchdown-plus favourite.
Nonetheless, the play of Tennessee switch Nico Iamaleava provides UCLA the proverbial puncher’s probability in opposition to anybody. Iamaleava threw for 221 yards, one landing two interceptions in opposition to Maryland. He led a last-minute drive that culminated in Mateen Bhaghani’s game-winning 23-yard subject objective with two seconds left.
Skipper mentioned on Monday he wasn’t positive about Iamaleava’s standing after the quarterback emerged postgame with ice on his knee. Nonetheless, the interim coach is for certain about what his workforce has to do at Indiana, no matter who can or cannot play.
“We have got to play a clear sport and win the conditions,” he mentioned. “There’s all the time going to be vital conditions come up, and we now have to win these.”
Iamaleava is finishing 65.2% of his passes for 1,355 yards with 10 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, and he leads the workforce in dashing with 360 yards and 4 scores. Kwazi Gilmer has 30 receptions, one shy of his complete from final yr as a freshman.
The Hoosiers cruised to a 42-13 win final yr in Pasadena, Calif., within the packages’ first-ever assembly.
–Discipline Degree Media
