Skipper: UCLA’s Spirit Intact Despite Blowout, Travel Troubles

To add insult to injury, the Bruins didn't get home until late at night following their 56-6 loss to Indiana.

Oct 25, 2025; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) runs with the ball against Indiana Hoosiers defensive linemen Mikail Kamara (6) and Stephen Daley (8) during the second half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images | Robert Goddin-Imagn Images

Not only did the UCLA Bruins (3-5, 3-2 Big Ten) suffer one of the worst losses of the season against the No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers, but Tim Skipper also didn't get into bed until four o'clock that night.

Not because he couldn't sleep after the 56-6 Bloomington beatdown (although, who would), but because the Bruins had flight issues on their was back to Los Angeles.

The travel back home may have shaken UCLA's sleep schedule, but it didn't shake their morale. Skipper detailed the travel issues and his squad's spirits after a unforgettably forgettable Saturday meltdown.

"It took us a while to get home, first off," the interim coach said during Monday's media availability. "I think I got in bed at like 4 or 5 a.m. because we had some flight issues. So, morale was actually pretty good as we were waiting to take off and get going where we needed to go.

"I will say, it took some hours to that point, but as you're sitting there waiting and everybody's just there, we start talking and then you start to actually realize the sun's going to come up and it's time to get ready for the next challenge."

UCLA's interim head coach Tim Skipper celebrates after a Bruins touchdown against Michigan State during the third quarter on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. | Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The lapse in the team's travel schedule shook up this week's practice schedule, Skipper added, having to move his usually game debrief from Sunday to Tuesday because Monday was already reserved as an off day. The interim coach is using Tuesday to get through last game and then moving on to a crucial bye week.

Following the bye, the Bruins host Nebraska in the Rose Bowl on Saturday, Nov. 8, as part of an important last stretch of games. Down to five losses on the season, the UCLA is two losses away from losing bowl game eligibility.

Oct 25, 2025; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Northwestern Wildcats running back Joseph Himon II (6) runs with the ball against Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive lineman Cameron Lenhardt (11) during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images | Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

While that goal may not have been necessarily attainable after its 0-4 start, the goal going into the season was always to improve on last season's 5-7 finish. It's going to take an even greater turnaround this season compared to last to reach six wins, but making a bowl game after the lows the Bruins had would be the ultimate storybook ending.

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