Indiana football puts its 7-0 record on the line when it hosts red-hot UCLA at noon on Saturday. While the Bruins’ 3-4 record appears pedestrian, they have won three games in a row, most recently defeating Maryland on a last-second field goal. For all the praise his team has received during its red-hot start, Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti is not taking UCLA lightly.
“We’re playing a 3-0 football team,” Cignetti said Monday, referring to the Bruins’ recent form under interim head coach Tim Skipper and interim offensive play-caller Jerry Neuheisel. “They’re a rejuvenated football team.”
Offensively, UCLA is led by Tennessee transfer quarterback Nico Iamaleava. He sustained a knee injury versus Maryland on Oct. 18 but returned to lead the game-winning drive and resumed practice activities earlier this week.
Iamaleava has completed 65.2% of his passes this season, averaging 194 yards per game while throwing 10 touchdown passes and five interceptions. On the ground, he is averaging 4.9 yards per carry and has four touchdown rushes, three of which came in the Bruins’ upset win over then-No. 7 Penn State.
“Nico can really spin the ball,” Cignetti said. “He’s got a really quick body. That’s why you’ve seen some long gains out of the pocket with him.”
Cignetti said Indiana got off to a slow start on defense against Michigan State on Oct. 18. Though the Hoosiers won 38-13, the Spartans scored on their first two drives and dominated time of possession in the first half, holding the ball for over 20 minutes. Judging by its early success over its last three games, UCLA could make the Hoosiers pay if they come out flat again.
“Offensively, this team is rushing for 233 yards per game in (its) last three games,” Cignetti said of the Bruins. “They’re starting fast. Outscoring people 58-17 in the first half. They’ve gained two possessions with fake punts. They’re keeping the ball away from the other team.”
UCLA’s defense uses a plethora of personnel packages, mixing up pre-snap looks to confuse opposing quarterbacks. Though the Bruins’ four sacks rank second-worst among Big Ten teams, Cignetti praised what they have put on tape in recent weeks.
“Really impressed with what they do,” Cignetti said. “When you get outside of normal down-and-distance situations, you see a lot of stuff.”
The Bruins face their toughest test yet, as Indiana’s defense ranks fourth nationally at 11.6 points allowed per game, surrendering six offensive touchdowns in seven games. The Hoosiers will be without a key piece up front, as edge rusher Kellan Wyatt is out with a long-term knee injury sustained against Michigan State.
He is second on the team with eight tackles for loss and was a disruptive force opposite fellow edge rusher Mikail Kamara. Cignetti said Kent State transfer Stephen Daley will see his role increase in Wyatt’s absence.
The Hoosiers’ offense is among the best in the country, spearheaded by Heisman Trophy candidate Fernando Mendoza. The Cal transfer’s 191.0 passer rating leads all qualified quarterbacks and he is tied for first in the country with 21 touchdown passes. Wideout Elijah Sarratt leads the nation with nine touchdown catches while Omar Cooper is tied for sixth with seven TD grabs of his own.
“We try to push each other,” Cooper said Tuesday of his relationship with Sarratt. “Coming out knowing that there’s some way that we could still get better and (making) sure that (we aren’t) being complacent with what we’ve done so far.”
For all that they have accomplished through seven games, the Hoosiers could rest on their laurels. Cignetti is making sure no such thoughts creep in, repeatedly preaching that he is never satisfied. It has rubbed off on the players as well.
“If we come out sluggish or we feel like we’ve done something, he’s going to be really hard on us,” Cooper said of Cignetti. “He continues to push us to make sure we’re not focused on what happened in the past and that we have a big game coming up next.”
Indiana and UCLA are set for a noon Eastern/9 a.m. Pacific start on FOX Big Noon Kickoff. Pregame coverage begins at 10 a.m. Eastern on FOX, with the game also being broadcast on the IU Sports Radio Network and WIUX Sports.
