Bruins Take Another Win but Tiptoed to Get There

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, October 27, 2026

UCLA defeated Michigan State 28-10 at the Rose Bowl to improve to 7-0, marking their best season start since 2005 and rising to No. 7 in the AP Top 25 poll. The Bruins' dominant defense forced multiple turnovers and sacks, while a strong rushing attack controlled the game, positioning UCLA as a top contender in the Big Ten.

UCLA secured its seventh victory of the season Saturday at the Rose Bowl, handing Michigan State a 28-10 defeat and marking the program’s best start since 2005. The Bruins, now 7-0, moved up to No. 7 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll following the win.

Despite a difficult start that saw two costly fumbles in Michigan State territory and trailing entering the second quarter, UCLA’s defense played a critical role in shifting momentum. The unit recorded three takeaways and four sacks, while limiting the Spartans’ offense to just 156 yards, underpinning the Bruins’ fifth conference win of the season.

UCLA controlled the ground game, rushing for 245 yards and three touchdowns on an average of 5.1 yards per carry. The offense leaned heavily on the run, attempting 48 rushes compared to 31 passes. Although quarterback Ty Dieffenbach connected on a 63-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Brian Rowe Jr., the Bruins primarily focused on running out the clock in the fourth quarter with a multi-score lead. Head coach Bob Chesney acknowledged the offense could have opened up more but emphasized the strategy was intended to secure the win safely.

The Bruins’ running back corps demonstrated depth beyond leading rusher Wayne Knight, who left the game in the final quarter due to a chest and ribs injury. Senior Jaivian Thomas and fifth-year Anthony Woods stepped up despite early fumbles. Thomas finished with 41 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, while Woods contributed 112 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, along with three receptions. Chesney described the injury to Knight as minor and noted that the coaching staff opted to keep him out as a precaution.

On defense, linebacker play stood out as a dominant force for UCLA. Defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler’s linebackers aggressively disrupted the Spartans through blitzes, tough tackling, and strong coverage. Sammy Omosigho, who transferred from Oklahoma, leads the nation with five forced fumbles and ranks first in the Big Ten with 5½ sacks from the inside linebacker position. His counterpart, fifth-year Jalen Woods, added 2½ sacks, an interception, and 59 tackles, ranking fourth in the conference.

Sophomore Scott Taylor contributed three sacks and two forced fumbles, while senior Donavyn Pellot highlighted the game with his first career interception, returning it 67 yards to change the field position and momentum.

UCLA’s defensive efforts, combined with controlled clock management on offense, enabled the team to maintain its undefeated record and keep pace atop the Big Ten standings.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.