UCLA cruises past Michigan State to earn a 7-0 record
Bob Chesney’s Bruins are off to their best start in 21 years after beating Michigan State 28-10 on homecoming weekend.
In front of a crowd of 33,757 people without the visiting team’s band in attendance, the ninth ranked team in the country’s only goal was to take advantage of low-hanging fruit.
The Bruins, wearing their powder-blue and gold throwback uniforms, welcomed 1966 Rose Bowl champion, Jim Colletto, back to the iconic venue to do the pregame coin toss. Colletto and the Bruins defeated top-ranked Michigan State 14-12 on New Year’s Day, 1966.
Michigan State won the coin toss and elected to receive, the opposite decision most teams make when winning the coin flip.
The aggressive decision came at a price, as runningback Marvis Parrish was helped off the field after a 5-yard run resulted in a 1st down. The Spartans eventually punted, coming up empty on their first possession.
After beginning the season on the third string, quarterback Kayd Coffman was thrust into the starting role with Alessio Milivojevic and Cam Fancher injured. In spite of the short-handed quarterback room, Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald had confidence in Coffman.
“I thought he started the game really well. I didn't sense that it was too big of a moment for him leading into it.”
— Pat Fitzgerald, Michigan State Head Coach
On the first play of UCLA’s ensuing possession, Michigan State defensive lineman Ben Roberts went down with an injury. He too needed to be carried off the field during a television timeout.
Two Michigan State starters left the game before the second quarter. Spartan edge rusher Kenny Soares Jr. was asked about how he and the team reacted to the early losses.
“You’ve just got to know the difference between being reactive and having a reaction. Just gotta be able to keep your emotions and stay straight. That's it.”
— Kenny Soares Jr., Spartan Edge Rusher
UCLA had a mishap of their own when Anthony Woods fumbled and cornerback Devin Vaught returned it to the Bruin 15-yard line.
“I would say you've got to have better ball security. Hold the ball high and tight and lock in when in traffic.”
— Anthony Woods, UCLA Running Back
Two plays later, quarterback Kayd Coffman connected with Kenneth Williams for a 14-yard touchdown pass. The subsequent extra point gave Michigan State a 7-0 lead.
On Michigan State’s first drive of the second quarter, Williams coughed up the ball deep in Spartan territory. The fumble was forced by Malik Hartford and recovered by transfer linebacker Sammy Omosigho, his first of the season.
Omosigho has made his name forcing fumbles, with five on the year coming into the game.
Four minutes into the second quarter, Jaivian Thomas put the Bruins on the board with a 7-yard touchdown run.
Just as Williams fumbled after scoring a touchdown on the ground, Thomas had a fumble of his own on UCLA’s next possession. The fumble was forced by Vaught and returned to UCLA’s 19-yard line by Nikai Martinez.
Two plays later, Bruin linebacker Donavyn Pellot put UCLA back in business with a 67-yard interception return to Michigan State’s 21-yard line, the first of his collegiate career. On the sixth play of the drive, Runningback Wayne Knight punched it in from one yard out to give the Bruins their first lead.
“Donnie being able to flip the field is a big deal. Not the best coverage on the other side of the field by us if the quarterback just looks the other way. But, luckily for us, we got away with one there and put ourselves in position to then be able to score.”
— Bob Chesney, UCLA Head Coach
Knight’s touchdown made this the sixth game of the season in which multiple Bruins scored a rushing touchdown. Knight scored his 12th touchdown on the year, which leads the Big Ten Conference.
“As much as you might want to be the guy that carries the ball 40 times a game, it's not feasible to exist at this level in this league with that many carries, with that many hits that your body's got to take. So, I think they respect each other and are absolutely each other's biggest fans and do such a good job of finding their way into what they do well and, again, just supporting each other.”
— Bob Chesney, UCLA Head Coach
With time winding down in the second quarter, Bruin quarterback Ty Dieffenbach’s left leg was stepped on, causing sharp pain. He was still able to walk off the field under his own power. After the second half kickoff, Dieffenbach returned with his team holding a 14-7 lead.
It took only 4 plays for the Bruins to strike first in the second half, with Dieffenbach hitting wide receiver Brian Rowe Jr. for a 63-yard bomb. A Calabasas native, transferring from Cal Poly to UCLA has given Dieffenbach the privilege to play in front of his father, which has boosted his morale.
“That’s my guy, since day one. I remember when I first started playing quarterback during Covid in high school. We were out in the morning just throwing the ball around and he was out there in his gardening gloves catching the ball for me. So just for him, I can’t imagine how this feels.”
— Ty Dieffenbach, UCLA Quarterback
UCLA didn’t lose momentum on the defensive side of the ball, forcing a 3-and-out on Michigan State’s ensuing possession.
Woods capped off UCLA’s 70-yard touchdown drive with a 4-yard rush, extending their lead to 28-7.
The defense continued to shut down any semblance of an offense the Spartans mustered, only allowing a 46-yard field goal with 6:18 left in the game.
“Their response was phenomenal to come out and get the ball first and score immediately, and then three and out, and then it just was on.”
— Bob Chesney, UCLA Head Coach
Michigan State managed to scrape together just 156 yards of total offense, averaging less than 2 yards per carry and Coffman only throwing the ball 25 times.
With a deep transfer class, Chesney has been able to flex the depth of his team on the defensive side of the ball. Fifth-year linebacker Jalen Woods, who has had to compete against those transfers in practice, spoke about what those guys bring to the team.
“If you could help us to be successful on the field, you will be out there. Having everybody with one goal, and we know what we are trying to reach – becoming the best defense in the country – that is what we strive for.”
— Jalen Woods, Fifth-Year Linebacker
After the week’s games concluded, the UCLA Bruins, Utah Utes and Miami Hurricanes were the last undefeated Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams.
