As UCLA ready to attempt to topple its highest-ranked opponent in almost twenty years, one coach talked concerning 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 enjoying a 3-0 soccer workforce that’s undefeated, that’s 3-0 within the convention since they’ve retooled their workers,” Cignetti informed reporters. “Very spectacular soccer workforce.”
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 prime groups.
Surging UCLA (3-4 total, 3-1 Massive Ten) is barely 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.
After all, the Bruins hope the parallels finish there on condition that these Hoosiers went on to lose their remaining two video games and people Nittany Lions completed with a dropping report.
Cignetti made the 2025 Bruins sound like a workforce for the ages, declaring that they had been averaging 233 yards speeding per sport over the past 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 “Massive Midday” showdown towards 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.
Fortuitously for the Bruins, interim coach Tim Skipper performed for Pat Hill at Fresno State, that means he embraces the “Anybody, Anytime, Anyplace” mindset that made the scrappy Bulldogs a nationwide phenomenon due to their fearlessness.
UCLA large 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 Pictures)
“That’s at all times a part of me; I’ve been brainwashed that manner, to be sincere with you,” Skipper stated. “However, yeah, I imply, to me, as soon as the whistle blows, it’s simply us towards you. I imply, it’s time to go. Let’s see who had the higher week of apply, let’s see who’s extra ready, let’s see who desires this factor. In order that’s how I see it. We’re going to kick it off, we’re going to need to be able to pressure for each inch and let’s see what occurs.”
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’m nonetheless attempting to determine weaknesses,” Skipper stated. “Like, it’s loopy how disciplined they’re.”
UCLA final beat a workforce ranked as excessive as Indiana in a sport that many Bruins followers will perpetually cherish — their 13-9 conquer No. 2 USC in 2006 on the Rose Bowl.
A recruiting win
At a time of nice uncertainty, when it will be simple for UCLA’s workers 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.
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’ve proven me that it doesn’t matter what scenario they’re in,” Robertson informed The Instances, “they are going to at all times get the job achieved with the teaching workers and gamers. And I’m rooting for this workers 100%.”
UCLA’s workers 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 frolicked visiting with offensive line coach Andy Kwon earlier than the Bruins’ sport towards Maryland final weekend.
“We’re grinding over right here, we’re not letting something go to waste or not giving effort in a single space or one other,” Skipper stated of his workers’s recruiting efforts. “It’s full velocity in the whole lot 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 stated he would wait to additional assess quarterback Nico Iamaleava and working backs Anthony Woods and Jaivian Thomas earlier than offering harm updates.
Iamaleava returned from an obvious proper knee harm sustained late within the sport towards Maryland to guide the Bruins on their profitable drive. Woods and Thomas had been sidelined after “each guys sort of acquired rolled up on,” Skipper stated.
