PASADENA, CA. — UCLA continued its impressive start to the season Saturday night, relying on a strong defensive performance and a poised effort from backup quarterback Ty Dieffenbach to secure a 17-7 victory over Wisconsin at the Rose Bowl.
Dieffenbach made his first career start in place of injured starter Nico Iamaleava and delivered a solid performance, completing 22 of 33 passes for 264 yards. Running backs Wayne Knight and Anthony Woods each scored rushing touchdowns as the 12th-ranked Bruins improved to 6-0 for the first time since 2022.
The victory also marked a milestone for head coach Bob Chesney, who became the first UCLA coach to win his first six games at the helm. The Bruins improved to 4-0 in Big Ten play and remained undefeated in conference competition.
UCLA entered the matchup without Iamaleava, who suffered a leg injury the previous week against Oregon. Dieffenbach handled the opportunity effectively, helping the Bruins control possession and establish an early advantage.
The Bruins opened the scoring with a 24-yard field goal by Mateen Bhaghani. UCLA methodically moved down the field on a 16-play drive that consumed 8 minutes and 42 seconds, both season highs for the team’s opening possession. Dieffenbach completed six of his first eight passes to five different receivers, setting the tone for the night.
UCLA increased its lead to 10-0 in the second quarter when Knight powered into the end zone from one yard out. The touchdown extended Knight’s streak of consecutive games with a rushing score to six.
Wisconsin struggled to generate consistent offense during the opening half. The Badgers converted just one of six third-down opportunities and managed little sustained momentum. UCLA held the ball for approximately 18½ minutes in the first half, compared with Wisconsin’s 11½ minutes.
The Badgers also missed an opportunity to get on the scoreboard before halftime. Gavin Lahm, who had been perfect on field-goal attempts entering the game, missed a 46-yard kick wide right, leaving Wisconsin trailing by 10 points at the break.
Wisconsin found a spark in the third quarter after struggling offensively throughout the first half. Quarterback Colton Joseph scored on a three-yard run, cutting UCLA’s advantage to 10-7 and giving the Badgers renewed hope.
Joseph finished 6 of 16 passing for 66 yards while leading Wisconsin’s ground attack with 71 yards on 18 carries. Despite his contributions as a runner, the Badgers could not produce enough offense to complete the comeback.
UCLA delivered the decisive blow in the fourth quarter. Woods crossed the goal line on a three-yard run to push the Bruins’ lead to 17-7. Officials reviewed the play after Woods appeared to lose control of the ball, but the touchdown ultimately stood.
Wisconsin’s defense suffered another setback during the scoring drive when safety Matt Jung was ejected for targeting.
The Badgers had another opportunity to respond on their next possession. Darrion Dupree appeared to pick up a first down with a two-yard run to the UCLA 46-yard line. However, a video review determined he had fallen just short of the marker following a tackle by Sammy Omosigho. The overturned ruling returned possession to UCLA with 8:43 remaining, significantly damaging Wisconsin’s chances.
Penalties also undermined the Badgers’ efforts. Wisconsin was flagged 10 times for 102 yards, including four penalties during its second offensive possession.
Both teams entered the contest following bye weeks. The meeting marked their first matchup since UCLA joined the Big Ten ahead of the 2024 season.
Takeaways
Wisconsin: The Badgers entered Pasadena with momentum after winning three consecutive games, including a road victory over then-No. 13 Penn State. They had also won three straight meetings with UCLA, including Rose Bowl victories following the 1993 and 1998 seasons. However, costly penalties, missed opportunities and an inconsistent passing attack prevented Wisconsin from extending its winning streak against the Bruins.
UCLA: The Bruins continued their remarkable turnaround after winning just three games last season. Their ability to prevail without Iamaleava demonstrated the value of having a capable backup quarterback and a dependable rushing attack. With six consecutive victories and a perfect Big Ten record, UCLA has established itself as an early contender in the conference. A favorable stretch of upcoming games could help the Bruins strengthen their position before the regular-season finale against crosstown rival USC.
What’s Next?
Wisconsin will return home next Saturday to face No. 19 USC, looking to regroup against another challenging opponent.
UCLA will host Michigan State next Saturday as it begins a stretch of three consecutive home games. The Bruins will look to maintain their unbeaten record against Michigan State, Nevada, Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan before closing the regular season against USC.
