The second game of the Curt Cignetti era was historic — now the Hoosiers look to keep up their intensity in conference play. Cignetti was positive about his team’s approach last Saturday in a bludgeoning over Western Illinois, 77-4.
“But we took it to them from the get go and kept the pedal to the metal to the end,” Cignetti said Monday. “We played with intensity throughout the game, and energy.”
The Hoosiers are coming off a game where they set multiple program records: Most points scored in a game (77), most offensive yards gained (713), most touchdowns in a game (11) and most extra points made (11). All those records aside, the team knows there’s still work to be done against UCLA.
“People still might be a little bit skeptical,” redshirt junior defensive lineman Mikail Kamara said. “I think, going in here doing what we need to do against UCLA can start this change that we’re looking for.”
Even though the team has heard doubts about their ability, it hasn’t knocked their personal confidence. Kamara had a change in tone when asked about this coming Saturday.
“Oh we’re very excited,” Kamara said Tuesday. “I think this is a game where we go out there and prove to everybody that this is real.”
The Hoosier defense didn’t allow a first down until WIU’s sixth drive last weekend. The unit was a living nightmare for the Leathernecks.
Meanwhile the offense had over 300 yards in both the air and ground game. There was no answer for junior wide receiver Elijah Sarratt who went for 137 yards and a touchdown on six receptions.
“Waffle House. Y’all can call me Waffle House because I’m open 24/7,” Sarratt said on Tuesday.
With IU being the first Big Ten team from last year’s conference to play the first game against any of the new schools, a lot of questions have come up about the Rose Bowl for the first time since IU played in the Rose Bowl game in 1967. Cignetti could’ve cared less about playing there when asked back in July at Big Ten Media Days.
"We're just going to an old stadium to kick somebody's ass,” Cignetti said. “That's not directed to UCLA, that's the objective every week. Look, I know 1967 we were there and haven't been there since, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. We're not going out on a cruise or a tour."
UCLA head coach DeShaun Foster didn’t comment on Cignetti’s thoughts about the Rose Bowl. He did say they’re excited to come back home, open the season, and see Indiana. Foster gave credit to Cignetti and how well the Hoosiers are coached.
“It’s an explosive team,” Foster said. “They play hard, that’s their thing you know, tough guys they’re gonna play hard. They’re not really a team that’s going to beat themselves.”
UCLA had a bye last week, but almost beat themselves against Hawaii week one. They pulled out a win against the Rainbow Warriors 16-13 but threw two interceptions on top of six penalties for 60 yards.
With the bye week the Bruins have presumably tightened down a lot of the issues they saw in week one. Except there was a major brightspot, UCLA’s defensive line.
UCLA racked up five sacks and 11 tackles for loss against Hawaii. Ten players picked up some sort of stat that caused a loss in yards. The battle between IU’s o-line and UCLA’s defensive front will be a fun one to watch.
The issues UCLA had two weeks ago came from the offense. Senior QB Ethan Garbers had a rough day, exactly 50% completion on 38 throws, two interceptions, and had a lot of escaping to do in the pocket.
Their o-line was no help to the run game either. The running backs averaged 2.4 yards per carry with virtually no holes to run through.
If it wasn’t for sophomore wide receiver Rico Flores Jr. this team might have not found the endzone at all. Flores had a 39-yard TD reception to give UCLA life and boost him to over 100 yards in his first game in Bruin blue.
UCLA did not have a great first outing. Although they’ve had extra time and extra film to prepare against IU for their first game ever as a Big Ten team.
You can watch the first Big Ten conference game of the 2024 season on NBC, with kickoff at 7:30 p.m. EST.
