The Indiana Hoosiers are flying high at 7-0 — and after No. 2 Miami’s shocking loss to unranked Louisville, they’ve climbed to the No. 2 spot in the nation, the highest ranking in program history. Everything seems to be going Indiana’s way heading into Week 9, but with a 3-4 UCLA squad coming to Bloomington this Saturday, head coach Curt Cignetti knows his team can’t afford to overlook the Bruins.
After stumbling to an 0-4 start, UCLA hit the reset button. The program parted ways with head coach DeShaun Foster, offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri — a former quarterback coach under Cignetti — and defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe. In their place, the Bruins promoted Tim Skipper, a special assistant to the head coach, to interim head coach. Jerry Neuheisel, the team’s tight ends coach, has taken over play-calling duties on offense, while his former offensive coordinator during his playing days at UCLA (2012–2015), Noel Mazzone, has returned as an offensive analyst. On the defensive side, Kevin Coyle, their senior defensive analyst, now leads the unit as the new play-caller.
It’s safe to say this is not the same UCLA team that opened the season. The Bruins have found new life under their revamped staff — and Cignetti made it clear during his Monday press conference that he’s not taking them lightly.
“UCLA — we’re playing a 3-0 football team that’s undefeated,” Curt Cignetti said Monday. “They have retooled their staff, now they have their new defensive coordinator and offensive staff in place, very impressive football team. Offensively this team is rushing for 233 yards a game right now, in their last three games, which would be against Penn State, Michigan State and Maryland.”
The Bruins have quietly become one of the hottest teams in the Big Ten. After starting 0-4, they’ve rattled off three straight wins — and these weren’t soft matchups by any stretch. UCLA stunned No. 7 Penn State in a 42–37 shootout, a win that might have derailed the Nittany Lions’ season and showcased the Bruins’ dramatic turnaround. They followed that up with a gritty victory over a 4-2 Maryland team, keeping their bowl hopes alive and sending a message that this revamped squad is no pushover.
Cignetti has long emphasized the importance of controlling the pace of play, particularly through the run game. He often talks about maintaining a balance between rushing and passing to dictate tempo — a principle that UCLA seems to have fully embraced since its staff overhaul.
In the first four weeks of the season, when the Bruins fell to UNLV, New Mexico, Utah, and Northwestern, their ground game wasn’t too strong. Across those four games, UCLA ran the ball 109 times for just 497 yards and a single touchdown — a modest 124.3 yards per game and 4.56 yards per carry.
But once Jerry Neuheisel took over play-calling duties, the script completely flipped. In their last three contests — all against Big Ten opponents — the Bruins have bulldozed their way to 700 rushing yards on 131 carries, adding six touchdowns in the process. That’s an average of 233 yards per game, two rushing scores per outing, and a much-improved 5.34 yards per carry.
“Truthfully everything we’re watching right now, is their offense in the last three games, I haven’t watched any of their offense prior to that, except for maybe what I saw on TV,” Cignetti said. “We’re focusing in on the last three games with the people that are pushing the buttons and calling the shots right now.”
For Cignetti, the last three games of film are all that matter — because that’s where UCLA’s new identity has taken shape. The Bruins have transformed into a ground-heavy, hard-nosed offense, but their passing attack can’t be ignored either.
At the center of it all is quarterback Nico Iamaleava, a dual-threat playmaker who has been the engine of UCLA’s resurgence. Not only does he have the arm to stretch the field, but his mobility makes him a nightmare for defenses. Iamaleava currently leads the Bruins in both rushing yards (360) and touchdowns (4) — an impressive feat for a player on a program with so much chaos around it.
“Nico can really spin the ball,” Cignetti said Monday. “He can make all the throws. He’s got a really quick release. He’s got a live body, a really quick body. That’s why you’ve seen some of the long gains out of the pocket with him.”
That explosiveness was on full display against Penn State, when Iamaleava torched the Nittany Lions for 128 rushing yards and three touchdowns on just 16 carries, while adding 166 yards and two scores through the air. His ability to extend plays and attack from multiple angles has made him the focal point of UCLA’s attack.
Indiana, however, has had its share of struggles against mobile quarterbacks this season. Old Dominion’s Colton Joseph burned the Hoosiers for 179 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, while Michigan State’s Aidan Chiles led the Spartans in rushing — including a 64-yard dash that showcased how dangerous broken plays can become.
If Indiana’s defense doesn’t stay disciplined, Iamaleava could make them pay. It’ll be a major test for defensive coordinator Bryant Haines, who must find a way to contain a quarterback capable of turning any snap into a highlight.
With Big Noon Kickoff rolling into Bloomington and Memorial Stadium expected to be electric, Saturday’s matchup has all the makings of an excellent spectacle. Kickoff is set for noon ET, as the No. 2 Hoosiers look to stay perfect and keep their playoff hopes alive against a suddenly surging UCLA team.
