No. 9 UCLA Bruins Overpower Michigan State 28-10 for Homecoming Win

No. 9 UCLA football marched past Michigan State to prevail 28-10 in the Bruins’ annual homecoming game Saturday afternoon at Rose Bowl Stadium, improving its overall record to 7-0 and its conference mark to 5-0 under first-year head coach Bob Chesney.

Bruins Overcome Sloppy First-Half Turnovers

The Bruins started the game with a rocky performance that left room for a potential upset by the visiting Spartans. Michigan State capitalized on early mistakes when UCLA running back Anthony Woods fumbled the ball in the first quarter. Devin Vaught picked up the loose ball and raced 56 yards to the UCLA 15-yard line. Two plays later, true freshman quarterback Kayd Coffman swung a short pass out to running back Kenneth Williams, who ran into the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown. The score gave Michigan State a 7-0 lead after the opening quarter.

UCLA committed another lost fumble in the first half when Jaivian Thomas coughed up the ball, marking two turnovers in the first half for the home team. Fortunately for the Bruins, their defense swung momentum back by forcing two turnovers of their own before halftime. Malik Hartford jarred the ball loose from Williams, and teammate Sammy Omosigho recovered it deep in Spartan territory. Five plays later, Thomas powered up the middle for a seven-yard touchdown to level the score.

Following another UCLA fumble and long return, defensive back Pellot intercepted a pass from Coffman and returned it 67 yards to the Michigan State 21-yard line. The short field allowed Wayne Knight to punch in a goal-line score, sending the Bruins into the locker room with a 14-7 halftime lead.

Defense and Ground Attack Dominate After Intermission

UCLA asserted control in the second half by clamping down defensively and grinding down the clock on the ground. The Bruin defense held Michigan State to a season-low 156 yards of total offense, registering four sacks, six tackles for loss, and three forced turnovers. Sammy Omosigho finished the afternoon with six tackles, a career-high 2.5 sacks, and one fumble recovery. Jalen Woods led all defenders with nine tackles, including one sack.

Offensively, senior quarterback Ty Dieffenbach shook off a first-half injury scare to orchestrate a productive second half. On the opening drive of the third quarter, Dieffenbach connected with Brian Rowe Jr. on a 63-yard touchdown pass—the first FBS-level passing touchdown of Dieffenbach’s career. Anthony Woods scored a rushing touchdown to extend the lead following a Spartan fumble.

Woods finished the game as the team’s leading rusher, toting the ball 14 times for 112 yards and a touchdown. Wayne Knight added 56 yards on 15 carries with a score, while Jaivian Thomas contributed 41 yards on 10 attempts.

Spartans Fight Through Quarterback Shifts

Michigan State dropped to 2-6 overall and 0-5 in Big Ten Conference play while battling through personnel shortages. True freshman quarterback Kayd Coffman struggled against the relentless UCLA pass rush before being replaced by fourth-string freshman quarterback Leo Hannan, who closed out the contest under center. The pair of signal-callers combined for 109 passing yards.

The Spartans briefly interrupted UCLA’s 28-point unanswered scoring run in the fourth quarter when Liam Boyd kicked a 46-yard field goal, capping a methodical 15-play, 69-yard drive that consumed 5:29 of game time. Any late hopes of a comeback were officially dashed when Malik Hartford intercepted Hannan along the right sideline, marking the first career interception for both Pellot and Hartford.

During a halftime ceremony at the Rose Bowl, UCLA recognized its nine newest Athletic Hall of Famers: Garrett Atkins, Kris Farris, Sam Mewis, Andre Phillips, Kelly Reeves, Matt Reis, Michael Sealy, Sam Storey, and Earl Watson.

Non-Conference Clash Against Nevada Awaits

UCLA concludes its three-game homestand on Saturday at the Rose Bowl. UCLA hosts Nevada in a non-conference matchup at the Rose Bowl. The contest follows a 2013 matchup where the Bruins earned a 58-20 victory at the same venue.