Dan Lanning calls UCLA this year’s version of Indiana

Dan Lanning calls UCLA this year’s version of Indiana

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Dan Lanning calls UCLA this year’s version of Indiana
Dan Lanning

Dan Lanning calls UCLA this year’s version of Indiana originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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How UCLA has opened the season under first-year head coach Bob Chesney is one of the surprising storylines in college football.

Through their first 4 games in 2026, the Bruins have flipped into being a competitor again. A completely different look for a program that had struggled for much of the past 15 years. Chesney has come into Westwood and established a great culture. UCLA is 4-0 and ranked in the AP Top 25 for the first time in years.

Now comes the real test for the Bruins. Dan Lanning's 15th-ranked Oregon Ducks will host UCLA at Autzen Stadium. Many would believe this would be a runaway win for Oregon, but Lanning isn't convinced that will be the case. He compared this Bruins team to last year's Indiana Hoosiers' squad.

Lanning refuses to take UCLA lightly, as Oregon was stunned by Indiana, who eventually won a national championship. The Ducks can't afford another letdown after losing to Oklahoma State. However, they come into the matchup with a little bit of momentum after beating USC.

Oregon is right where they want to be back on the national conversation. But there is no time to celebrate anything at this point. The Bruins have won each game this season by at least two scores.

Lanning comparing this year’s UCLA to last year’s Indiana is very high praise. This speaks to Chesney’s rebuild and suggests the Bruins and going to be a road block for the Ducks.

If the Bruins can find a way to knock off the Ducks on the road in Eugene, they're for real and football is back in that part of southern California. This could be a game with Big Ten and College Football Playoff implications.

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