The Big Ten gauntlet continues for the Bruins as they face their toughest test of the season: a Saturday road game against No. 2 Indiana. The 7-0 Hoosiers will host the 3-4 UCLA on Saturday for Big Noon Kickoff on Fox.
For the Bruins, this matchup means entering their most hostile environment yet as they seek to upset a second top-10 opponent this season. The 3-1 start to the conference schedule has revived a Bruins team and has been one of the biggest risers in all of college football as they sit tied for fourth in the Big Ten. Led by interim head coach Tim Skipper and offensive coordinator Jerry Neuheisel, UCLA has flipped its season around, and there are no signs of slowing down.
UCLA Bruins vs. Indiana Hoosiers: Matchup History
Prior to the Bruins’ shift to the Big Ten, the two programs had never met on the gridiron until last season.
In the 2024 meeting, UCLA was unable to find an answer for the Hoosiers’ offense, eventually losing 42-13 on its home turf. However, neither team has remained the same, and new faces will determine the outcome on Saturday. It’s also important to note that Indiana has not lost in front of its fans since November of 2023 and is 18-2 over its last 20 games.
Further illustrating the matchup, some familiarity lies with Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The Heisman candidate faced the Bruins when he was a member of the Cal Bears in 2023, and comfortably beat UCLA 33-7 at the Rose Bowl. Again, much has changed, but the history remains.
The Blue and Gold are given just a 3.8 percent chance to win, and open as a -24.5 underdog. It’s an intimidating task, but the Bruins have played spoiler before.
UCLA vs. Indiana 2025 Preview: Keys, Players and Predictions
“We’re going to go to a hostile environment [and] we’re going to play in front of a national TV audience,” Skipper said. “What it really comes down to is, what are we going to do between the white lines when it kicks off. That’s where our focus is right now.”
Key Players for UCLA
It will be up to more than just quarterback Nico Iamaleava to lead the Blue and Gold to an upset win.
Rising wide receiver Titus Mokiao-Atimalala had his breakout game last week against Maryland. The senior had a career-high 102 yards and six catches in the home win. On the season, Mokiao-Atimalala has 18 grabs, 240 yards and three touchdowns. He’s on track to have his best collegiate season as he’s expected to shatter all his previous personal-best marks.
The Bruins have been in need of a second option behind Kwazi Gilmer, and Mokiao-Atimalala has seemed to emerge as such. If Week 8 was a glimpse of what’s to come, then Iamaleava and this offense could reach an even higher level, especially with the ability the six-foot-one receiver possesses down the field. Expect a high-octane aerial attack in which No. 2 will be featured prominently.
Key Players for Indiana
The big three in the Hoosiers’ passing attack are game wreckers. Mendoza and his two receiving weapons, Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr., have diced up defenses effortlessly. The two wideouts have combined for 1,184 yards on 80 catches and have hauled in 16 touchdowns. They are one of the best wide receiver tandems in the country, and the Saturday tapes back it up.
Mendoza is aiding two pass catchers that rank in the top six in catches, yards and touchdowns. His Heisman campaign is writing itself, and the 1755 passing yards, 21 touchdowns (first in Big Ten), two interceptions and 73.5 percent completion rate (second) are case and points. In seven games, the Miami native has four games of four-plus touchdowns, three games of 85 percent-plus completions and has rallied Indiana to five 30-plus point games. He’s been unbelievable all year and will be a handful for the Bruins to deal with.
The Hoosiers currently rank third in the nation in average time of possession (34 minutes), fourth in points (43.9) and opponents points (11.6) per game, fifth in turnover margin (plus seven) and seventh in yards per game (497.3). Not to mention the havoc they cause in the backfield with sacks and tackles for loss. Indiana is simply a nightmare matchup for any team.
UCLA’s Keys to a Win
Sometimes the best opportunities are when expectations are low. With nothing to lose, UCLA can play a much freer-minded game. We saw what happened when the Bruins played No. 7 Penn State. They played their version of football and forced the Nittany Lions to cater to their style.
However…
“I don’t really think anything from the past is going to do anything for this game,” Skipper mentioned. I’m one of those people that thinks every single game has its own history [and] identity. So, we’re going to have to go out there [and] play Bruin football.”
If the Blue and Gold can force the Hoosiers to face adversity early, it could set up a shocking victory. Like Skipper has been, the 60 minutes of aggression should continue against an Indiana team that excels all over the field. The Bruins must get Mendoza playing off his back foot and force him into errant throws. Offensively, Iamaleava and UCLA need to establish the line of scrimmage and play a run-first scheme. Early drive killers need to be avoided and playing catch-up is one-way ticket to a loss. Nonetheless, it’ll be a battle of two highly skilled offenses, and whoever has the ball last could legitimately decide the victor.
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Eric Hayrapetian
Eric is a lifelong Angeleno and a sports journalist who graduated from the University of California, Berkeley. He joined The League Winners in January of 2025, and is the lead beat writer for the UCLA Bruins. Follow Eric on X (formerly known as Twitter) @EricHayrapetian.