UCLA HC Admits What Went Wrong in Blowout Indiana Loss

Tim Skipper is taking this lesson into his clash with No. 1 Ohio State in a few weeks.

Indiana's E.J. Williams (7) runs during the Indiana versus UCLA football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. | Rich Janzaruk/Herald-TImes / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The UCLA Bruins' (3-5, 3-2 Big Ten) miraculous three-week turnaround ended abruptly after their 56-6 loss to Curt Cignetti and the No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday.

It was a tough loss, but a painful reminder of exactly where the Bruins are on the college football pecking order.

During Monday's media availability following the loss, UCLA interim head coach Tim Skipper shared what he thought went wrong and how he can use this experience when the Bruins go on the road against No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday, Nov. 15.

"The thing you take from it is, you know how the top teams in this country, in this conference play, and you know how you need to play," Skipper said.

Sep 27, 2025; Evanston, Illinois, USA; UCLA Bruins interim head coach Tim Skipper takes the field against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images | David Banks-Imagn Images

"So we need to figure out that we need to practice hard and we need to play hard and our style of pay needs to be consistent all the time.

"And that would be the most disappointing thing, is just our styler of play wasn't what it's been. You didn't see the strain. You didn't see the fanatical effort. Those type of things. And you're going to need to play that way when you play these top teams like we just did."

Oct 11, 2025; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; UCLA Bruins interim head coach Tim Skipper looks up at the video board in the fourth quarter at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Mullin-Imagn Images | Brendan Mullin-Imagn Images

The Bruins were stunned, outplayed, outcoached and outmatched against Cignetti and the Hoosiers, who continue to rise among the college ranks. Cignetti reminded UCLA fans what a truly elite coach and program builder looks like.

UCLA Needs a Cignetti

In the midst of Skipper's illustrious turnaround in Westwood, Saturday's loss just gave more proof that UCLA needs to go out and hire the Cignetti archetype.

Indiana Head Coach Curt CIgnetti shakes UCLA Head Coach Tim Skipper's hand during the Indiana versus UCLA football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. | Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Skipper's job turning the Bruins around turned Westwood into one of the more appealing destinations on the coaching carousel. That was until yet another massive domino fell with LSU firing head coach Brian Kelly.

The LSU gig immediately becomes one of, if not the, most appealing jobs on the market, so where does that slot UCLA now?

Jul 29, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; A detailed view of UCLA Bruins helmet during Pac-12 Media Day at Novo Theater. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Athletic's Chris Vannini revisited the best openings in college football, and an updated view of his rankings looks like this:

1. LSU
2. Penn State
3. Florida
4. Arkansas
5. UCLA
6. Oklahoma State
7. Virginia Tech
8. Stanford
9. Oregon State
10. Colorado State
11. UAB
12. Kent State

Sep 27, 2025; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly reacts during the fourth quarter against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

The Athletic's estimated valuation of UCLA is set at $343 million, which ties it for 43rd among Power 4 programs. Vannini gave the Bruins' vacancy a B grade. Here's what he had to say:

• "The idea of UCLA has long seemed better than the reality of UCLA. The Bruins haven’t won a conference championship since 1998 and haven’t posted a 10-win season in more than a decade. Fan apathy is showing up in the attendance figures at the Rose Bowl, and the athletic department’s financial problems have been piling up — the Bruins have been operating at a cumulative deficit of over $200 million over the last five years.

• "But it’s a Big Ten job in Southern California. That doesn’t mean all Big Ten jobs are better than all ACC or Big 12 jobs. But it means the Bruins’ ceiling and the floor should be higher, and the path to success is easy to envision.

Aug 30, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach DeShaun Foster watches game action against the Utah Utes during the second half at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

• "The school needs a coach capable of setting up a better recruiting operation in California and exciting the fans and donors to spend for success. The expectation should be annual bowl games with periodic 10-win seasons."

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