Defense stands out against UCLA as Hoosiers work toward 'ultimate goal'

Defense wins championships, and for Indiana, its defense is hoping to build toward one.

That old adage might be a little cliché, but even in today’s world of college football, it holds true. And for Indiana in its quest for a Big Ten title and national championship, its defense has proven that it can impress week in and week out.

In a 56-6 win over UCLA, the Hoosier defense put on a show. It had arguably its most impressive performance of the season, doing so with a fast, physical and relentless attack led by the defensive front.

Indiana was pressuring Bruin quarterback Nico Iamaleava on almost every single play, which is nothing new, but Indiana looked like a different beast out there on Saturday. For as good as the offensive unit has been throughout the Hoosiers’ eight wins this season, it might be the defense that leads the way down the stretch.

How it Happened: No. 2 Indiana slaughters UCLA 56-6 to improve to 8-0

In the matchup with UCLA, it began on the very first play. On first-and-10 from the Bruin 27-yard line, defensive lineman Tyrique Tucker and linebacker Rolijah Hardy combined for a sack of Iamaleava. A fantastic start, no doubt, but Indiana wasn’t done just yet.

On the second play from scrimmage, Indiana’s defensive line got to Iamaleava again, and this time, the Hoosiers came up with a pick-six courtesy of linebacker Aiden Fisher.

Fisher caught the pass and took it 25 yards in the opposite direction to put Indiana on the board and take a 7-0 lead, a score that would prove to be all IU needed to secure a victory.

That’s because Indiana’s defense allowed just six points throughout the game, its second-lowest total of the season, and one that goes to show the grit of the entire defensive unit.

“It was really just building off what we did last week and cleaning that up. We felt like we didn’t play aggressive enough, and the coaches challenged us to do that this week and really go out there and show them. That’s how we felt, and that is how we attacked the game,” Tucker told reporters postgame.

Indiana certainly played aggressively, evident in the fact that it was able to total three sacks and seven tackles for loss, in addition to the two interceptions and constant pressure on Iamaleava. This allowed Indiana to cruise to a victory over the Bruins, but for the Hoosiers, that was never going to be enough.

The Curt Cignetti-led team is never satisfied, as it has championships on its mind, and each individual game is just a stepping stone toward something greater. Indiana’s defense understands that and treats each contest like it means everything while never being content with the result.

“Coach Cig does not want to see smiles on the sideline at all. For us, it is 0-0 every time we step on the field. That was our mentality, even coming out of halftime with the lead we had. It is always about getting better. We obviously have an ultimate goal at the end of the season,” linebacker Isaiah Jones explained.

The goal is obvious, and that’s to be the last team standing as the national champion of the College Football Playoff. But first, Indiana is looking to capture a Big Ten title. For the Hoosiers to control their own destiny, they have to win each and every game, and the defense has been a major part of Indiana’s first eight wins.

The Indiana defense has allowed just six touchdowns all season, with four of those coming in conference play. IU hasn’t allowed two touchdowns in a game since Week 1 against Old Dominion, with that game also including the last second-half TD the Hoosiers have given up on the defensive end.

“We take pride in that. If they get down in the red zone, we have to muscle up and stop them. We want to hold them to three if they get anything. That is what we go out there and try to do every possession,” Tucker said following the UCLA win.

The Bruins were held to just two field goals all game long, marking the third instance in eight games where the Hoosiers kept their opponent out of the end zone.

The numbers speak for themselves, but again, Indiana will never be complacent with how it played, even with a historic start like 2025 has been.

In Indiana’s quest for something great, it all starts with the coaching staff. Of course, that means Cignetti at the top, but defensive coordinator Bryant Haines plays a vital role in allowing the defense to improve week over week.

“Bryant does a great job. The kids respond. They have a lot of pride,” Cignetti said.

Coach Q&A: Curt Cignetti reacts to Indiana’s Week 9 win over UCLA

With leaders like Cignetti and Haines, this Indiana defense has reached new levels in 2025. For as great as it was a year ago, the Hoosiers might be even better this season, with defense being a prime reason why.

The Hoosiers ranked fourth in the nation in scoring defense coming into the UCLA matchup and continue to trend upward afterward. For a team with championship goals, that’s the making of a championship defense.

Among the last four national champions, three were the No. 1 defense, while one was the No. 4 defense in the country. While “defense wins championships” may seem outdated, the numbers don’t lie.

Indiana is striving for something that’s never been done before in program history and, in the process, has achieved things no other Hoosier team has done. As the No. 2 team in the nation, Indiana is taking things week by week, though, and its latest challenge ended with a 56-6 drubbing of UCLA.

With an explosive offensive attack, some may have forgotten about the Hoosiers’ defense, but against the Bruins, they made themselves known. As the season moves along, don’t overlook Indiana’s defense, because it may just be the key to raising a banner at Memorial Stadium.

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