The Cinderella story of college football faces it’s hardest challenge yet, and on it’s biggest stage. The UCLA Bruins head to Bloomington to face off against the no. 2 Indiana Hoosiers for the College Football Big Noon Kickoff and UCLA’s three-win-streak will be put in jeopardy against one of the best teams in the country.
The Bruins are no strangers to upsets though. After all, UCLA’s miracle run started with a 45-37 upset of Penn State on Oct. 4, an improbable win under head coach Tim Skipper that has breathed new life into a program that appeared dead on arrival after an 0-4 start to the season.
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One upset doesn’t guarantee another though. Indiana is a new challenge that requires it’s own preparation, something Skipper is keenly aware of.
#9 Nico Iamaleava of UCLA walks towards the huddle during an NCAA football game against Penn State on October 4, 2025 in Pasadena, CA.
Darwin Walker – The Sporting Tribune
#9 Nico Iamaleava of UCLA walks towards the huddle during an NCAA football game against Penn State on October 4, 2025 in Pasadena, CA.
“I don’t really think anything from the past is going to do anything for this game. I’m one of those people that thinks every single game has it’s own history, it’s own identity,” Skipper said. “So, we’re going to have to go out there, we’re going to play Bruin football and we’re going to have to win the situation.”
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The situation in question is one that’s characterized by the Hoosiers’ dominant defense and even more overpowering offense.
Indiana has been one of the best teams in college football for a reason, and as Skipper has studied them throughout the week to game plan for Saturday, he’s seen just how good they’ve been across the field and what will be needed from the Bruins to prepare and succeed.
#3 Kwazi Gilmer of UCLA carries the football upfield during an NCAA football game against Penn State on October 4, 2025 in Pasadena, CA.
Darwin Walker – The Sporting Tribune
#3 Kwazi Gilmer of UCLA carries the football upfield during an NCAA football game against Penn State on October 4, 2025 in Pasadena, CA.
“It is crazy how disciplined they are, Coach [Curt] Cignetti does a very good job with those guys,” Skipper said. “They are very, very disciplined in all three phases, they’re not giving up any explosive plays, they’re having a ton of explosive plays, they tackle very, very well and then they’re ball handlers… they complement each phase of the game so well; it’s not surprising that they’re so good, the record is what they are and that they are ranked.”
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Indiana has been particularly effective at containing opposing rushers, allowing the 7th least average rushing yards per game and tied for the second-least rushing touchdowns allowed. While UCLA’s rushing has drastically improved in recent weeks, it’s still the weaker half of their offense and against such a tough defensive team, passing will likely be the key to Bruins’ success on the back of standout quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who has reportedly continued to practice strong despite suffering as knee injury scare in the final minutes of UCLA’s last win over Maryland last week.
Iamaleava’s favorite target, wide receiver Titus Mokiao-Atimalala, will also have a big responsibility to keep the offense going, something he’s excelled at, especially after a 100+ yard receiving performance against Maryland.
#2 Titus Mokiao-Atimalala of UCLA catches a pass during an NCAA football game against Maryland Terrapinson October 18, 2025 in Pasadena, CA.
Robert Talamantes- The Sporting Tribune
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#2 Titus Mokiao-Atimalala of UCLA catches a pass during an NCAA football game against Maryland Terrapinson October 18, 2025 in Pasadena, CA.
On the flip side, Indiana’s own offense is one of the best in the country, scoring the second-most points in the Big Ten with 307 and are top five in both passing yards and rushing yards. This puts extra pressure on the Bruins defense to make stops and contain some of the most dominant scorers in the conference.
While this game has been on the schedule for UCLA all season, the fact that it’s now the Big Noon Kickoff, putting the Bruins on a national stage after their resurgence as a team, is a circumstance that no one could have predicted after the way they started the season. As big as the stage has become, Skipper has made sure to keep the bright lights out of his players’ eyes and to treat this game like any other, something that can keep UCLA improbably marching ahead.
“It comes back to what we talked about last week: the standards the standard. It’s not going to matter who we’re playing or where we’re playing at, or any of that. We’ve identified our style of play and what we want to be. Now, we’ve got to back it up every single day and in every single game… we have to play the way we’re supposed to play. We have to be the best versions of ourselves.”
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“It’s approaching it the way we’ve been approaching it. Just taking it day by day, week by week. The standards the standard they say,” defensive back Rodrick Pleasant said after UCLA’s win over Maryland. “We’ve been trying to abide by that and it’s been going well. Just looking it as another game, go in there and have fun and play football.”
