PASADENA, Calif. — The No. 9 UCLA Bruins have ridden an opportunistic defense to an unbeaten start, forcing more turnovers than any team in the nation.
First-year head coach Bob Chesney watched that defensive identity continue Saturday, as UCLA forced three takeaways in a 28-10 victory over the Michigan State Spartans at the Rose Bowl.
"What a great job by the defense to step up," Chesney said. "That was a big-time deal."
The Big Ten matchup featured two units at opposite ends of the turnover spectrum.
Michigan State entered the game just three takeaways in seven games, tied for the fewest in the nation, while UCLA had forced 19, including seven in its upset win over Oregon.
For the Spartans to pull off an improbable road upset as major underdogs, they needed to start fast and do something they struggled to do all season. Create turnovers.
They did both.
On UCLA's opening drive, the Bruins moved the chains with three first downs and crossed into Spartan territory looking to strike first. But on second-and-10 from the Michigan State 36-yard line, senior running back Anthony Woods lost the ball after safety Devin Vaught forced a fumble. Vaught scooped it up and returned it 56 yards to the UCLA 15-yard line.
Two plays later, the Spartans made the Bruins pay.
True freshman quarterback Kayd Coffman, making his first career start, found Kenneth Williams wide open out of the backfield for a 14-yard touchdown pass, giving Michigan State an early lead.
“I got to have better ball security,” Woods said. “I have to flush (the fumble). Next play mentality. Bad things happen sometimes, but you have to push through adversity.”
UCLA’s defense quickly gave the offense an opportunity to respond. The Bruins jarred the ball loose from Williams, and linebacker Sammy Omosigho recovered the fumble inside the Michigan State red zone.
The Bruins capitalized on the short field, as senior running back Jaivian Thomas broke through for a 7-yard touchdown to tie the game, recording his fourth rushing score of the season.
But UCLA’s momentum was short-lived. On the ensuing drive, Thomas appeared to pick up a first down on third-and-7 from the Michigan State 34-yard line before Vaught punched the ball loose for his second forced fumble of the half. Nikai Martinez recovered for the Spartans and returned it 56 yards before quarterback Ty Dieffenbach tracked him down to prevent a defensive touchdown.
Despite the offense’s second lost fumble, UCLA’s defense once again had an answer.
After a direct-snap run went nowhere on first down, Coffman dropped back and fired toward the right side. Defensive back Donavyn Pellot read the pass, stepped in front of the throw and returned the interception 67 yards, swinging momentum back to the Bruins.
UCLA turned the takeaway into points for the second time, as fifth-year running back Wayne Knight punched in a 1-yard touchdown to give the Bruins a 14-7 lead. The score extended Knight’s streak to seven consecutive games with a rushing touchdown and gave him 12 on the season.
After a scare late in the first half, when Dieffenbach appeared to injure his lower body following a hit by multiple Spartan defenders, UCLA’s offense found its rhythm after halftime.
Dieffenbach connected with Brian Rowe Jr. on a perfectly placed 63-yard touchdown pass, giving the 6-foot-6 signal-caller his second passing touchdown of the season and first in front of the home crowd. Woods followed with his sixth rushing touchdown, extending UCLA’s lead to 21.
The score also marked the third time this season that Knight, Woods and Thomas had each found the end zone on the ground in the same game.
That's a room that is talented, physical, tough and works as hard as any other room out there, Chesney said. "It's cool to see them working together."
The three-headed monster out of the backfield has allowed UCLA to dominate in the trenches and make themselves known as one of theist rushing attacks in the country.
“We can do a lot," Woods said. We can catch out the backfield. We feed off each other's energy, we make plays for the team and try to win."
While UCLA’s offense took control after halftime, the defense delivered the final blow. With fewer than five minutes remaining, Malik Hartford intercepted backup quarterback Leo Hannan to secure the Bruins’ third takeaway of the afternoon and seal Michigan State’s sixth consecutive loss.
UCLA’s dominance extended beyond the turnover margin. The defense did not allow a single completion for 39 minutes and 53 seconds of game time, spanning from 6:04 in the first quarter to 11:11 in the fourth. Meanwhile, Chesney’s offense outgained Michigan State 443-156, recorded 10 plays of at least 10 yards and held a 245-47 advantage in rushing yards.
Sporting baby blue throwback uniforms inspired by the 1954 national championship team, the Bruins improved to 7-0 for the first time since 2005 and just the eighth time in program history.
UCLA did not play a mistake-free game, surrendering two fumbles, but its defense repeatedly erased those miscues. Each time Michigan State threatened to seize control, the Bruins responded with a takeaway — turning three defensive takeaways into a 28-10 victory and reinforcing the formula behind their unbeaten start.
The Bruins will look to carry that momentum into their third consecutive home game next Saturday, when they host the Nevada Wolf Pack at the Rose Bowl on Halloween.