Michigan State travels to California this Saturday for a difficult Big Ten matchup against No. 9 UCLA at the Rose Bowl. The Spartans are looking to end a frustrating stretch, while the Bruins will try to protect their undefeated record and continue building their case as one of the nation’s top teams.
Game details: Saturday, October 24, at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
Michigan State Looks to Bounce Back
Michigan State enters the matchup at 2-5 overall and 0-4 in Big Ten play after suffering a heartbreaking 24-21 loss to Northwestern. The Spartans had an opportunity to take the lead late, but a blocked field goal helped set up Northwestern’s game-winning kick with just two seconds remaining.
Head coach Pat Fitzgerald needs his team to respond quickly against one of the conference’s strongest opponents. Quarterback Alessio Milivojevic will be an important piece of that effort. He threw for 216 yards and two touchdowns against Northwestern, showing that the Spartans can move the ball through the air.
Running back Jaziun Patterson will also need to help establish a consistent ground game and keep UCLA’s defense from focusing entirely on the passing attack. Defensively, Michigan State must find a way to pressure the quarterback and limit explosive plays.
The Spartans have faced a challenging schedule, but another close loss will not help them turn their season around. Playing with discipline and finishing drives will be essential.
UCLA Aims to Stay Undefeated
UCLA enters Saturday at 6-0 overall and 4-0 in Big Ten play under first-year head coach Bob Chesney. The Bruins have already doubled their win total from last season and are coming off a 17-7 victory over Wisconsin.
However, UCLA faces a significant challenge after losing starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava for the remainder of the season because of a knee injury. Senior quarterback Ty Dieffenbach stepped in against Wisconsin, throwing for 264 yards in his first start.
The Bruins will likely lean on their running game, led by Wayne Knight, who has rushed for 571 yards and 11 touchdowns this season. UCLA’s defense has also been a major strength, allowing just 16.2 points per game.
What to Watch For
Michigan State must take advantage of UCLA’s quarterback change and avoid allowing the Bruins to control the game on the ground. Meanwhile, UCLA will look to use its home-field advantage and defensive strength to maintain its perfect record.
The Spartans have the opportunity to make this competitive, but they will need a strong performance in all three phases to pull off the upset.