UCLA's Surprise Football Rise
Oregon Coach Dan Lanning Compares Undefeated UCLA to Indiana's Surprise Rise
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Key Points
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The roster-building parallels include specific numbers: Curt Cignetti brought 13 James Madison players to Indiana, while Bob Chesney brought 11 to UCLA and added 43 transfers for his first Bruins season.
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UCLA has not historically been a frequent roadblock for Oregon: the Ducks have won five straight meetings and nine of the last 10. The Bruins have also had six sideline coaches, including interims, over the past decade.
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Lanning saw Chesney’s team firsthand when James Madison played Oregon in the College Football Playoff’s first round: the Dukes lost 51-34 but gained 503 yards, including a strong second half.
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Indiana’s rise went beyond making the playoff: after reaching the CFP in Cignetti’s first season, the Hoosiers went undefeated the following year and won the national championship against Miami.
Oregon coach Dan Lanning is sounding the alarm ahead of his team's showdown with undefeated UCLA. The No. 15 Ducks face the No. 23 Bruins, who are 4-0 and have won each game by at least two scores USA Today. Lanning sees troubling parallels to Indiana's stunning rise under Curt Cignetti — a blueprint he doesn't want his team to underestimate.
The comparison centers on roster construction and coaching continuity. Cignetti brought 13 James Madison players to Indiana in his first year, while UCLA's new coach Bob Chesney brought 11 Dukes players and added 43 transfers total USA Today. Lanning watched this Chesney-led James Madison team firsthand during last year's playoff: the Dukes lost 51-34 but gained 503 yards, showing they could compete at the highest level USA Today.
Indiana's Stunning Ascent Under Cignetti
Indiana's rise went far beyond making one playoff appearance. After reaching the College Football Playoff in Cignetti's first season, the Hoosiers went undefeated the following year and won the national championship USA Today. That kind of trajectory — from rebuild to champion in two years — is exactly what worries Lanning about UCLA's current trajectory and talent infusion.
UCLA's Strong Start Masks Recent Coaching Instability
UCLA's current dominance comes after years of struggle. The Bruins have cycled through six head coaches, including interim coaches, over the past decade USA Today. That dysfunction contrasts sharply with their perfect 4-0 record and dominant margins of victory. Chesney's arrival and immediate roster upgrades have stabilized a once-turbulent program.
Oregon's History Against UCLA Doesn't Tell Full Story
Oregon has dominated this matchup recently: the Ducks have won five straight meetings and nine of the last 10 against UCLA USA Today. But Lanning isn't relying on that history. He remembers past UCLA upsets and knows that a well-coached team with fresh talent and momentum can derail even comfortable advantages. The Ducks' own recent stumble — a loss to Oklahoma State — reinforces the danger of overlooking any opponent USA Today.
Lanning's Warning Signals Respect for Chesney's Vision
By comparing UCLA to Indiana, Lanning is essentially warning his team: this is a program in ascent. Chesney has imported proven players and coordinators from James Madison, created roster depth with 43 transfers, and built a system that shows structural competence USA Today. For Oregon, entering the matchup after a bye week, the message is clear — UCLA is no longer a team to dismiss, and overlooking them could cost the Ducks.
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