Indiana Football Game Preview: UCLA – key questions, injury report, how to watch

Week 3 of the Indiana football season is here and the Hoosiers are looking to build momentum from last week’s beatdown over Western Illinois when they go on the road for the first time this season to visit the UCLA Bruins.

Not only is this the first road game of the season for Indiana football, but this is the first conference matchup as well for the Hoosiers.

UCLA is coming off a very early bye week after beating Hawaii in week 1. The game will mark Indiana’s initial matchup with one of the four new Big Ten schools (Oregon, UCLA, USC, Washington) as conference opponents and Curt Cignetti’s first Big Ten game as head coach.

The game will kick at 7:30 p.m. ET and air on the NBC/Peacock.

Below is the full game preview of everything you need to know about Saturday’s week 3 matchup.

Watch: UCLA head coach DeShaun Foster previews week 3 matchup vs Indiana football

Key Questions

Is this the biggest game in Indiana football’s recent history?

Ever since it was announced that Indiana would be going on the road to face UCLA in the 2024 season, it has been a game that has been circled on the calendar of many of Hoosiers Nation. When it comes to swing games of the season, this is certainly No. 1 for Indiana football.

The question expands to, is this the bigger the game in recent history for the Hoosiers? In a ton of ways, it is because a win against a team that you have never faced before, on the road, while int he first season of the Curt Cignetti era goes such a long way.

“UCLA, a lot of tradition there,” Cignetti said. “Three straight years of bowl games, 25 wins the last three years. You look at us, nine wins the last three years going on the road. Somehow we’re favored, which doesn’t mean anything.”

“Rose Bowl has a lot of tradition for people that follow football,” said Cignetti. “For me and the team, it’s more of a business trip, whether we’re playing in the Rose Bowl or in a parking lot. It’s all the same.”

If Indiana football can go on the road to defeat UCLA, the trajectory of this team will change drastically this season.

Will Indiana keep it’s offensive firepower going? 

Although the opponents have not been the strongest of competition, the offense for Indiana football has done nothing but through the first two weeks.

Through all phases of the Indiana football offense, the Hoosiers have shown tons of promise in each. Kurtis Rourke has been extremely consistent, the running backs have exploded to averaging 6.4 yards per carry, and the wide receivers just continue to show how many weapons they have across the board.

In this game at UCLA, this will be the first true test to see if this offense is legit enough to play against a conference level opponent. While UCLA is not going to be best team the Hoosiers will face in the Big Ten, they are major step up from Western Illinois and FIU.

The defense of Indiana football will need to play stout, but the offense performance will be the difference maker for the Hoosiers this Saturday night.

Trending: 3 Keys to Victory for Indiana football against UCLA

Matchup History

Indiana is set to face UCLA in the first meeting in program history on Saturday night and is first trip to the historic venue in over a half a decade for the Hoosiers

While this will be Indiana’s first time playing against UCLA, it will be their second-ever appearance playing in the Rose Bowl, dating back to the team’s 1968 appearance in the Granddaddy of them All against USC.

Related: 3 Storylines to watch for when Indiana football faces UCLA

Injury Updates

WR Donaven McCulley (Questionable, head/neck)

WR EJ Williams (Questionable)

RB Kaelon Black (Questionable, hamstring)

TE James Bomba (Questionable)

More: Indiana Football DL Mikail Kamara ranks as one of the top pass rushers in the nation through two weeks

Quick Hitters

Who?: Indiana (2-0) at UCLA (1-0)

When?: Saturday, Sept. 14 | 7:30 ET

Where?: Rose Bowl Stadium (Pasadena, Calif.)

TV: NBC/Peacock

Radio: Indiana Hoosiers Sports Network

Spread: Indiana football is a 3-point favorite per DraftKings SportsBook

SEE ALSO: Indiana football ready for ‘a business trip’ as Curt Cignetti downplays ‘noise and clutter’ of UCLA matchup

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