CHICK-FIL-A PEACH BOWL: OREGON VS INDIANA

January 7, 2026

Iapani Laloulu

Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Oregon Ducks

Press Conference

IAPANI LALOULU: Being level minded, like I always said. Dante does a great job. Since that last year, he's been telling everybody, hey, man, smile. Just a little telling the boys to smile can play a huge part into your game. So just seeing the way he attacks every single game since then is awesome.

Q. What was your takeaway from watching the Rose Bowl, seeing what Indiana's defense is able to do?

IAPANI LALOULU: You can tell one thing I really love about them and their game, whatever their job is, they go and get it done and execute it. They're not a team that when you're watching film really messes up a lot, and that goes to their coaches and to their players and their preparation and them locking into the execution.

Seeing that is awesome, especially a team like Bama. That's pretty cool to see. Just gotta be ready for whatever they bring, gotta adapt and execute.

Q. This is your third postseason rematch. What's the key to this game? Is it not thinking too much about the rematch?

IAPANI LALOULU: I think really just sticking to your preparation, just having confidence, just trusting and knowing that that dude right next to you to your left and right will get the job done and that your coaches will pick which play and which scheme and you will get the job done.

And whether it's good or bad, we gotta make sure we do it 110 percent and make something out of it. Like you said, not really focusing on the past and the rematch, just being present.

Q. How have you seen Will balance his current job and also his other job at Kentucky?

IAPANI LALOULU: He's still the same man, man. Doesn't matter if he got the job. You can tell how much he comes in with the energy every single day, making sure the boys got some energy as well and being prepared.

Q. What has it been like over the last few days?

IAPANI LALOULU: I mean, we talk about strength in numbers. It don't matter who steps on that field, we know they're going to get the job done, on all phases, offense, defense or special teams. No matter who steps on the field, I got the utmost confidence and respect that they're going to get the job done.

Q. Generally as one of the big leaders on this team, seeing this big moment for your team coincide with the transfer portal, having to manage that, the excitement, but also seeing teammates leave.

IAPANI LALOULU: I mean, it sucks, but at the end of the day, I just pray blessings and they get another opportunity at another school and they get what they need. Just really focusing on the team probably the biggest thing and not really worrying about the outside.

Like you said, the transfer portal sucks. It plays a big role in what we're trying to do, but I know whoever we got in the room right now will get the job done.

Q. And obviously the offensive line didn't go the way you wanted to against Indiana last game. So what are you guys working on to rectify that?

IAPANI LALOULU: Really watching film, getting every nugget we can. Coach Terry and the locker room coaches do a great job. Every single day, day in and day out, just really watching film, trying to get us prepared for whatever Indiana is going to bring and whatever they're going to bring that's different, so we just gotta be prepared and be ready to adapt and execute.

Q. The Ohio State game last year, knowing that you guys beat Ohio State at the beginning of last year and then you had that similar situation, does that give you confidence going into this one?

IAPANI LALOULU: Oh, yeah. Most definitely. Obviously it's a different team. Really talk about the team last year. So I really trust that the guys that we got right now will do their job, like I've been saying.

I just know that we've been preparing so long for this moment ever since the beginning of winter workouts, spring ball and summer camp and fall camp. I just know that I got guys who will put their ten toes down and get the job done.

Q. Where did you guys watch the Rose Bowl? Were you on the plane or the hotel?

IAPANI LALOULU: Yeah, a couple of us were watching it on the plane. By the time we were already on our way back after we just played our game.

Q. When it became pretty clear early in that game it was going to be Indiana, what was your reaction?

IAPANI LALOULU: I was like, let's do it. It don't matter who it is. I know the Oregon Ducks will come and we will bring our A game.

Q. What would you say is the biggest key for your group on Friday to win that battle?

IAPANI LALOULU: Just being able to adapt and execute is probably one of our biggest things and really me I.D.ing and communicating to the guys, making sure we're all on the same page. Five equals one we always say. When all five guys can think with one mind and we're all on the same page, we're getting to get the job done. And just really getting whatever nuggets that we can before game day hits. Like we target, the preparation is never done.

48 hours, there's a lot of time to prepare, even on game day, before game day. Before that, that clock ticks off, we always say, that's what I love about Coach Lanning, he says, we still need to prepare no matter what. So just being ready to prepare and communicate and I.D. the formation and fronts that they're giving us and just use my eyes to do the technique and go out there and execute.