Head Coach: Tim Skipper (interim)
Overall: 3-4 (3-1)
Bowl Appearances at UCLA: Zero
2024 Record: 5-7
Mascot: Joe and Josephine Bruin
Colors: Blue and Gold
Outfitter: Jordan Brand
National Titles: One (1954)
Conference Titles: 17
Heisman Winners: Gary Beban in 1967
Last Week: 20-17 victory at Maryland
Betting Information
For the upcoming Week 9 matchup against UCLA, the betting information lists Indiana as a 24.5-point favorite (Indiana -24.5), with the point total (over/under) set at 54.5. Fans looking to learn more about the betting lines and get even more involved in the action can do so by using sportsbook promos.
Statistical Leaders
Passing: Nico Iamaleava – 135 of 207 (65.2%) for 1,355 yards with 10 TDs and 5 INTs
Rushing: Nico Iamaleava – 74 rushes for 360 yards and 4 TDs
Receiving: Kwazi Gilmer – 30 receptions for 369 yards with 2 TDs
Tackles: JonJon Vaughns – 66 tackles with 27 solo
Stat of the Week: After starting the season 0-3, UCLA canned DeShaun Foster and named Tim Skipper interim head coach. They lost Northwestern but since that defeat, the Bruins have won three games in a row and they are outscoring opponents 100-67.
Bruins’ Talking Points
- A 3-0 Team
UCLA’s record is 3-4 but the Bruins are one of the hottest teams in the Big Ten and Curt Cignetti acknowledged on Monday that IU was approaching them as such. “We’re playing a 3-0 football team,” Cignetti told the media. Interim head coach Tim Skipper has injected positivity and life into the program and he believes those things are the key to the turnaround. “Those same guys that were dealing with all this adversity are now over the hump and enjoying coming to work. They enjoy football again,” he told ESPN’s Paolo Uggetti. Kevin Coyle was given control of the defense and the Bruins have allowed only one total touchdown in the past two games and 33-year old Jerry Neuheisel is now the offensive coordinator after taking over the duties from ex-IU assistant Tino Sunseri. The flip of the culture was immediate and the spoils of the newfound life have been found on the field with three straight victories.
2. Blue-Chip Talent at QB
The Indiana Hoosiers will be squaring off against one of the more talented quarterbacks in the nation as they try to contain UCLA’s Nico Iamaleava. In the three victories since the 0-4 start, Iamaleava has been unleashed by the play-calling of Jerry Neuheisel and he is playing like the five-star quarterback he transferred in as. Iamaleava is a dual-threat gunslinger that threw for 166 yards and ran for 128 in the upset of Penn State and then followed that up by throwing for 180 and three touchdowns against Michigan State and then throwing for 225 with 25 yards on the ground in the close win over Maryland. Iamaleava is playing behind an improving offensive line and he has a good trio of receivers in Kwazi Gilmer, Titus Mokiao-Atimalala and Mikey Matthews. Much like Aidan Chiles, if Nico Iamaleava gets into a rhythm, he has the talent to make for a long day for opposing defenses.
3. Revitalized Defense
Throw out the numbers from early in the season when UCLA gave up 43 points to Utah, 30 to UNLV and 35 to New Mexico. The defense is now under the direction of coordinator Kevin Coyle and they have placed a heavy emphasis on playing with physicality. Penn State put up 37 points but UCLA made the Nittany Lions work and they have only given up one offensive touchdown in the past two games (Michigan State and Maryland). Despite the new life for this defense, and it is much improved, there are still some holes for IU to try and exploit. For instance, Maryland ran for 4.9 yards per carry, Michigan State ran for 3.5 yards per rush and Penn State averaged 5.1 yards per rush on 31 carries. The Bruins have only had one interception all season (Scooter Jackson got it last week against Maryland) and they only have six sacks on the year. If they can’t get some pressure on Fernando Mendoza, UCLA’s secondary will have a tough time covering IU’s wideouts.