Bob Chesney’s UCLA Bruins defeated the Illinois Fighting Illini 22-14 Friday night. Not only is this just the third 10-0 start in program history, but seven more wins than last year’s 3-9 finish is the best single-season turnaround in program history.

The rain-soaked game was the 13th all-time meeting between the two programs, and the first since the 2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco.

In spite of the torrential downpour and supposed obstacles getting to the stadium, a season-high 45,800 fans turned out at the Rose Bowl in ponchos to watch the fourth ranked team in the country.

“I knew we were on the brink of it, and we were worried about the weather, but ultimately, what a great job by them,” Chesney said. “I’m really proud of the way they showed up.”

Head coach Bret Bielema had Illinois riding a 4-game win streak, pitting the two Big Ten teams with the longest active win streaks against each other.

The temperature at kickoff was 59 degrees Fahrenheit. Throughout the duration of the game, rain would come and go at different intervals.

Illinois won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half. It took UCLA just five plays to travel 75 yards for an opening-drive touchdown.

Quarterback Ty Dieffenbach hit wide receiver Aiden Mizell for a 54-yard touchdown pass, his third in the last two games. Mizell had two 75-yard touchdown receptions against the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

“Aidan in particular, is just awesome. He's a great receiver. You see what he does with the ball after he catches it," Dieffenbach said.

Illinois’ second consecutive punt was undone by a roughing the punter penalty on defensive back Osiris Gilbert. The Fighting Illini were rewarded with a fresh set of downs, but forced to punt seven plays later.

Illinois’ first drive of the second quarter began just shy of midfield. A pair of third down conversions got them to UCLA’s 36-yard line, but an end zone interception by Scooter Jackson gave the ball back to the Bruins at their own 20-yard line.

After driving 72 yards to the 8-yard line of Illinois, it was Dieffenbach’s turn to throw an end zone interception. Defensive back Juice Clarke undercut Landon Ellis at the back of the end zone.

The Fighting Illini’s ensuing drive began at their own 1-yard line. Another offensive series ended in a punt after seven plays.

“I take blame as a captain for allowing this,” runningback Aidan Laughery said. “It just sucks that we came in here and shot ourselves in the foot. That really kept us from being able to win the game.”

The Bruins’ ensuing drive saw a Dieffenbach touchdown scramble called back on an illegal block below the waist by Ellis. Pushed back to the 16-yard line, UCLA opted to kick a field goal three plays later to take a 10-0 lead.

Illinois preserving 1:26 before halftime by calling all three timeouts was undone by the Bruin defense forcing another punt. Two incomplete passes from Katin Houser gave UCLA 51 seconds and two timeouts to score again before halftime.

Houser finished the game completing less than 50% of his passes.

“UCLA is very productive. I wouldn’t say they're exotic, but they bring a lot of different things, a lot of different looks,” Bielema said. “They were able to create some pressure. Seemed to have all the answers for us in certain regards.”

Dieffenbach went down with an injury on a hit from defensive lineman Carter Jenki. Backup quarterback Madden Iamaleava finished the half.

“I went down a little awkwardly on the tackle, and my arm got caught up underneath. It got a little tight on me. It's nothing serious,” Dieffenbach explained.

The second half began with Mateen Bhaghani’s kickoff sailing out of bounds. Four plays later, Derrick Barksdale picked off a pass intended for Hudson Clement in front of the Bruin sideline.

Iamaleava resumed play at quarterback following the turnover. Ismael Kante’s sack on third-and-6 pushed the Bruins out of field goal range. UCLA’s punt pinned Illinois at their own 10-yard line.

It was the correct decision, as defensive lineman Aiden Gobaira sacked Houser in the end zone, the defense’s first safety of the season.

Courtesy: UCLA Athletics

“We're a team filled with guys who were told that we weren't good enough,” Gobaira said. “So it's our job and our responsibility to prove that every day to ourselves.”

Now trailing 12-0, Illinois scored their first points of the game on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Houser to tight end Kaden Feagin with 1:08 remaining in the third quarter.

Moments later, the stadium erupted as Dieffenbach returned to the game.

“I didn't know what it was. And then I saw up on the screen, him coming down the sideline,” Chesney said. “That was pretty impressive.”

He capped off his first drive of the second half with a 26-yard touchdown pass to Semaj Morgan. The point after attempt extended their lead to 19-7.

“We just kept moving the chains, and I was able to find him in the end zone. It was pretty cool."

Houser and the Fighting Illini responded with their own touchdown drive. Wide receiver Collin Dixon caught four passes including the drive-sealer in the back of the end zone on fourth-and-goal.

Illinois’ defense responded in kind and forced a 3-and-out.

Leading 19-14 with Illinois facing third-and-long, Jackson returned his second interception of the game 41 yards to put UCLA in the red zone.

Linebacker Sammy Omosigho praised Jackson. “He's a hometown player. This is his crib. So when he sees the ball, when he sees the receiver, when he sees the quarterback's vision, he breaks on it.”

After three straight carries by Wayne Knight, Bhaghani’s 37-yard field goal put the Bruins ahead 22-14. Knight was kept out of the end zone for the first time this season.

“I didn't see him run through a lot of tackles,” Bielema said.

Carson Boyd replaced Hauser after being helped off the field following a 7-yard sack. Defense had the final word, with Scott Taylor breaking up Boyd’s pass on fourth-and-17.

UCLA entered the game with the best rushing offense in the Big Ten. Their defense also ranks third in the conference, and has tallied the most interceptions and fumble recoveries. At game’s end, they had three interceptions: Two by Jackson and one by Barksdale.

The Bruins will take on the Michigan Wolverines on Saturday, Nov. 21.