BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — What began as a chance for UCLA to prove itself on the national stage turned into a humbling lesson in Bloomington. The Bruins were steamrolled by No. 2 Indiana, 56–6, as interim head coach Tim Skipper’s hot streak cooled dramatically against one of the nation’s elite defenses.
It went wrong from the very start. On the opening play, quarterback Nico Iamaleava was sacked. On the next, he was picked off by Hoosier senior linebacker Aiden Fisher, who raced it back for a touchdown. The tone was set — and the Bruins never recovered.
Iamaleava finished 13-of-27 for 113 yards and two interceptions, unable to find any rhythm as the Hoosiers’ front seven lived in the backfield. UCLA mustered only three points in the first half and just six total, while Indiana turned two early turnovers into quick scores to jump out to a 35–3 halftime lead.
Defensively, the Bruins showed brief fight — a batted-ball interception and a couple of early stands — but missed tackles and poor containment on third downs kept the Hoosiers rolling. A Jalen Berger fumble in the second quarter added to UCLA’s struggles, and by halftime, the game was effectively over.
Jalen Woods provided the lone spark for the Bruins, tallying six tackles for loss, three sacks, and a forced fumble, but the defense couldn’t contain Indiana’s balance or tempo. UCLA finished 1-for-10 on third down, gained under 100 yards through three quarters, and gave up six touchdowns before adding a late field goal.
IU head coach Curt Cignetti had promised aggression before kickoff — “We don’t play scared, we attack” — and his team delivered exactly that. The Hoosiers’ relentless defense and opportunistic offense justified their lofty ranking.
Rico Flores Jr. led UCLA with 50 receiving yards on four catches, but it was far from enough to make a dent against an IU team firing on all cylinders.
D. Wright Take Away:
UCLA (3–2) limps into a bye week searching for answers after one of its worst showings of the season. The Bruins will look to regroup before hosting Nebraska, a game that offers a chance to reset and rebuild momentum. Expect both Mendoza brothers to factor heavily — Fernando Mendoza impressed in limited duty, going 15-for-22 with 168 yards, three passing touchdowns, and one rushing score. If the Bruins are going to bounce back, that’s where it starts.