UCLA defeats Wisconsin, improves to 6-0 under Bob Chesney

Behind a standout performance from quarterback Ty Dieffenbach in his first UCLA start, the No. 12 Bruins defeated Wisconsin 17-7 at the Rose Bowl on Saturday.

Dieffenbach orchestrated a six-play, 89-yard drive in the fourth quarter to help seal the win for the Bruins, who clinched bowl eligibility by improving to 6-0 under coach Bob Chesney. UCLA is the only undefeated team in the Big Ten.

Although UCLA (6-0, 4-0) entered with one of the most potent ground attacks in the nation, the Badgers’ stalwart defense — a unit that ranked No. 15 in total defense and ninth in passing yards allowed heading into the game — held UCLA to just 3.2 yards per carry. Heisman Trophy contender Wayne Knight was limited to just 29 all-purpose yards, though he scored his 12th touchdown of the season.

No. 12 UCLA 17, Wisconsin 7, end of game.

UCLA started on its 37.

Ty Dieffenbach pitched the ball to Wayne Knight, who ran for four yards. Knight ran for another five yards. Dieffenbach pitched Aidan Mizell on a reverse sweep and he gained 33 yards. Wisconsin called timeout with 2:24 left.

Anthony Woods ran for five yards. Wisconsin called a timeout with 2:14 left. Jaivian Thomas ran for 10 yards and the two-minute timeout was triggered.

On first down at the Wisconsin 4, Jaivian Thomas ran for one yard. Dieffenbach ran for a two-yard loss. UCLA let the clock run down to 28 seconds before calling timeout. Dieffenbach bounced the ball on the turf and fell the ground and UCLA was called for a false start. Thomas ran for five yards and UCLA ran out the clock on a win.

No. 12 UCLA 17, Wisconsin 7, 4:49 seconds left in fourth quarter

Wisconsin started on its 20 after the punt.

Colton Joseph ran for two yards. Joseph gathered a low snap, rolled out under pressure and tossed the ball out of bounds. On third and eight, Joseph was sacked for a loss of one yard by Mason Rivera.

Wisconsin punted out of bounds at the UCLA 37.

No. 12 UCLA 17, Wisconsin 7, 6:25 seconds left in fourth quarter

UCLA took over on its 47.

Ty Dieffenbach passed to Wayne Knight for four yards. Knight ran for a loss of two yards. UCLA called timeout with 6:36 remaining in the fourth quarter. On third and eight, Dieffenbach’s pass sailed long and was incomplete.

UCLA punted to the end zone.

No. 12 UCLA 17, Wisconsin 7, 8:37 left in fourth quarter

Wisconsin started on its 25 after the touchback.

Colton Joseph ran for nine yards. Joseph’s deep pass was broken up. Darrion Dupree ran for 10 yards.

Dupree ran for one yard. Joseph’s pass to Tyrell Henry was dropped. On third and nine at the Wisconsin 45, Joseph ran for seven yards. On fourth and two, Dupree was credited for a two-yard gain, but it was reversed to one yard after review and the Badgers turned the ball over on downs.

No. 12 UCLA 17, Wisconsin 7, 11:31 left in fourth quarter

On first down at the UCLA 11, Wayne Knight ran for 12 yards and time expired in the third quarter.

UCLA was called for false start and moved back to the UCLA 3.

On first and 18, Ty Dieffenbach passed to Landon Ellis for 28 yards. Dieffenbach passed to Jalen Saint Paul for five yards. Dieffenbach tossed an option pass to Knight for a loss of one yard. Dieffenbach passed to Semaj Morgan across the middle for 34 yards. The play was reviewed and Wisconsin’s Matt Jung was called for targeting, giving UCLA another 15 yards and ejecting Jung from the game.

On first down at the Wisconsin 17, Anthony Woods ran for 14 yards. Woods ran for a three-yard touchdown. Mateen Bhaghani hit the extra point.

No. 12 UCLA 10, Wisconsin 7, four seconds left in the third quarter

Wisconsin started on its 33 after the turnover on downs.

Colton Joseph passed to Jacob Harris for 13 yards. UCLA was called for a face mask penalty on the play.

On first down at the UCLA 39, Joseph throws the ball away under pressure. Joseph ran for no gain. On third and 10, Joseph tossed an incomplete pass.

Wisconsin punted to the UCLA 11.

No. 12 UCLA 10, Wisconsin 7, 1:21 left in the third quarter

UCLA started on its 19 after a 19-yard Wayne Knight kickoff return.

Jaivian Thomas ran for five yards and another yard. On third-and-four, Ty Dieffenbach passed to Semaj Morgan for 10 yards. Dieffenbach was sacked for a loss of 16 yards. On second and 26, Dieffenbach passed to Anthony Woods, who jumped over one defender and gained 13 yards. On third and 13, Dieffenbach scrambled out of the pocket and passed to Brayden Loftin for 22 yards.

Knight ran for seven yards, but Semaj Morgan was called for holding and it cost the Bruins 10 yards. On first and 20, Dieffenbach passed low to Aidan Mizell and he only gained one yard. Thomas ran for three yards. Dieffenbach tossed an incomplete pass intended for Mizell, but Wisconsin was called for pass interference.

Dieffenbach’s pass was deflected and fell incomplete. Woods ran for two yards and another four yards. On fourth and four at the Wisconsin 33, Dieffenbach’s pass intended for Knight was broken up. UCLA turned the ball over on downs.

No. 12 UCLA 10, Wisconsin 7, 8:17 left in the third quarter

UCLA started on its 25 after the fair catch.

Ty Dieffenbach passed to Wayne Knight for a three-yard loss. Knight ran for no gain. Dieffenbach lateraled to Semaj Morgan, who was hit as threw a pass that was intercepted by Marvin Burks Jr. Wisconsin was called for unsportsmanlike conduct for a 15-yard loss after the pick.

Wisconsin took over at the Wisconsin 41 after the penalty. Abu Sama III ran for two yards Colton Joseph ran for three yards, but Tyson Ford was called for a personal foul penalty.

On first down at the UCLA 38, Sama ran for five yards. Joseph ran up the middle for seven yards. Tyrell Henry ran for nine yards.

Chris Books Jr. ran for five yards. Joseph ran for seven yards and another four yards, moving the ball to the UCLA 1. Wisconsin was called for false start. On first and goal at the UCLA 6, Sama ran for three yards. Joseph tossed an incomplete pass. On third down, Joseph dove forward for a three-yard touchdown. Wisconsin hit the extra point.

No. 12 UCLA 10, Wisconsin 0, end of second quarter

UCLA started on its 28.

Wayne Knight ran for four yards and another three yards. Ty Dieffenbach was sacked for a loss of six yards, but Hammond Russell IV was called for illegal hands to the face, moving the ball to the Wisconsin 45.

Dieffenbach passed to Aidan Mizell for three yards and Bob Chesney called timeout with 24 seconds left.

Dieffenbach tossed an incomplete pass before connecting with Brayden Loftin for 10 yards but UCLA was called for holding. Dieffenbach tossed an incomplete pass. And UCLA Dieffenbach’s deep pass to the end zone under pressure was intercepted by Marvin Burks Jr.

No. 12 UCLA 10, Wisconsin 0, 1:23 left in second quarter

Wisconsin started on its 34.

Colton Joseph passed for Chris Brooks Jr. for 17 yards. Eugene Hilton Jr. ran for nine yards. Joseph looked to pass and Sammy Omosigho stripped the ball, but Wisconsin fell on it at the UCLA 38 for a first down before the two-minute warning was triggered.

Joseph passed to Tyrell Henry for four yards. Joseph tossed the ball out of bounds under pressure from Amier Washington. On third-and-four at the UCLA 34, Joseph tossed an incomplete pass toward the end zone but Bruin Osiris Gilbert was called for pass interference.

On first down at the UCLA 19, Joseph ran for one yard. Colton tossed an incomplete pass. Joseph was sacked by Jalen Woods and Wisconsin was called for holding.

On fourth down at the UCLA 28, UCLA called timeout to stop the clock at 1:28.

Gavin Lahm missed the 46-yard field goal attempt.

No. 12 UCLA 10, Wisconsin 0, 3:57 left in second quarter

UCLA started on its 18 after the punt.

Ty Dieffenback tossed an incomplete pass while scrambling out of pressure. Anthony Woods ran for four yards and Dieffenbach tossed an incomplete pass across the middle of the field.

Curtis Gerrand punted 55 yards to the Wisconsin 23 and it was returned 11 yards to the Badgers’ 34.

No. 12 UCLA 10, Wisconsin 0, 4:57 left in second quarter

Wisconsin started on its 25 after the touchback.

Abu Sama III ran for 17 yards. Sama ran for one yard. Darrion Dupree ran for no gain. On third-and-nine at the Wisconsin 43, the Badgers called timeout with 5:13 left in the second quarter.

Colton Joseph avoided a light UCLA pass rush and he tossed an incomplete pass.

Wisconsin punted to the UCLA 16.

No. 12 UCLA 10, Wisconsin 0, 7:16 left in second quarter

UCLA started on its 9 after a punt.

Wayne Knight ran for four yards and then for no gain. Ty Dieffenbach passed to Semaj Morgan for 31 yards.

Anthony Woods ran for five yards, Ty Dieffenbach’s pass intended for Jalen Saint Paul was incomplete. Dieffenbach passed to Knight for five yards.

Dieffenbach scrambled for one yard. On second-and-nine at the Wisconsin 46, Jaivian Thomas ran for four yards. On third-and-five, Dieffenbach passed to Brian Rowe Jr. for 14 yards.

Dieffenbach ran for one yard. Dieffenbach then passed to Aidan Mizell for four yards. Dieffenbach passed to Saint Paul for 21 yards.

Knight took a direct snap and ran for a one-yard touchdown. Mateen Bhaghani hit the extra point.

No. 12 UCLA 3, Wisconsin 0, 14:50 left in second quarter

UCLA started on its 10 after the punt.

Wisconsin started on its 25 after the touchback.

Abu Sama III ran for six yards. Colton Joseph ran for 26 yards. Joseph ran for five yards. Joseph tossed an incomplete pass and was called for illegal motion. Joseph was sacked for a loss of one yard and fumbled but Wisconsin recovered.

On third-and-11 at the Wisconsin 41, the Badgers were called for a false start. Joseph passed for six yards, but Wisconsin was called for a personal foul. On third-and-25, Joseph passed to Jaylon Domingeaux for 23 yards and time expired in the first quarter.

After the break Wisconsin punted to the UCLA 9.

No. 12 UCLA 3, Wisconsin 0, 3:07 left in first quarter

UCLA started on its 10 after the punt.

Wayne Knight ran for three yards. Ty Dieffenbach passed to Semaj Morgan for five yards. Dieffenbach ran for three yards.

Dieffenbach passed to Jalen Saint Paul for five yards. Jaivian Thomas ran for four yards. Thomas ran for three yards.

Dieffenbach passed to Brian Rowe Jr. for 10 yards, Aidan Mizell for five yards and Landon Ellis for 29 yards.

Dieffenbach’s pass to Landon Ellis was broken up. Knight ran for four yards. On third-and-six at the Wisconsin 4, Dieffenbach passed to Saint Paul for 14 yards.

On first down at the Wisconsin 5, Dieffenbach ran for one yard. Knight ran for a loss of two yards. On third down, Dieffenbach tossed a pass that was tipped at the line and fell incomplete.

Mateen Bhaghani hit the 24-yard field goal.

No. 12 UCLA 0, Wisconsin 0, 11:49 left in first quarter

Wisconsin started on its 25 after the touchback.

Colton Joseph passed to Jaylon Domingeaux for three yards. Darrion Dupree ran for four yards. Joseph ran for six yards. Colton ran for no gain. Joseph rolled out and tossed an incomplete pass into double coverage. On third-and-10 at the Wisconsin 38, Dupree ran for four yards.

Wisconsin punted to the UCLA 10.

No. 12 UCLA 0, Wisconsin 0, 15:00 left in first quarter

UCLA won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half.

Mateen Bhaghani kicked the ball out of the end zone for the touchback.

Ty Dieffenbach, a former Cal Poly and Pittsburgh signal caller, wasn’t well known among UCLA and national college football fans until last week.

Dieffenbach has been patiently waiting for his moment since he made the switch from wide receiver to quarterback as a sophomore at Agoura High.

And like subbing in to play quarterback at Autzen Stadium and leading UCLA to the biggest win of the season thus far, his football journey has never been a layup. But that’s what makes Dieffenbach’s first Football Bowl Subdivision start against Wisconsin on Saturday at the Rose Bowl so special.

Neither USC nor UCLA has made the College Football Playoff since its inception in 2014. Yet the Trojans finished six of those 12 seasons ranked in the Associated Press top 25, while UCLA finished in the top 25 twice and is currently ranked No. 12.

Reports that the CFP is nearing a deal to expand the field from 12 to 24 teams in 2027 should be tremendous news for both schools. UCLA (5-0) is surging after its rousing upset over Oregon, and USC (6-1) is ranked No. 19 after beating Washington and Penn State.

Arduous tests loom during the second half of the season, however, making the chances of getting the nod from the CFP selection committee a coin flip at best.

UCLA coach Bob Chesney wasn’t ready to declare the end of UCLA senior starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava’s season on Monday, but the forecast was grim.

Iamaleava is expected to miss the rest of this season with a knee injury, according to a person with knowledge of the injury not authorized to discuss it publicly.

Chesney said he is waiting for UCLA doctors to “make the final call on things.”

“He has a meeting later today, and he’ll have a whole lot more clarity on exactly where things are at,” Chesney said of Iamaleava during a news conference Monday. “Everything being reported is what’s being reported. There is a serious concern at this moment, but at the same point in time, there is nothing that has been fully ruled at this moment.”

It never has been about the glory for Semaj Morgan.

Not the touchdowns. Not the name, image and license deals. And not even the 2024 national championship he won with Michigan.

For the UCLA wide receiver, all of that plays second fiddle to giving back to his community in Detroit and touching the lives of the people around him through the Semaj J. Morgan Foundation — an initiative he started when he was 17 years old.

Saturday was a day of breakthroughs.

It marked the first time UCLA defeated Oregon since 2017. The win was the Bruins’ first at Autzen Stadium since 2004. And Bob Chesney became the first UCLA head coach to start his tenure 5-0.

Sunday came with one more breakthrough: The Bruins cracked the top 15 in the Associated Press’ Top 25 for the first time since 2022.

EUGENE, Ore. — Sometimes the sequels are better.

In Bob Chesney’s return to Autzen Stadium after Oregon knocked his James Madison squad out of last season’sCollege Football Playoff, his No. 21 Bruins met the moment and toppled the No. 13 Oregon Ducks 17-15 Saturday.

The victory ended UCLA’s five-game losing streak against Oregon and was the Bruins’ first triumph in Eugene since 2004. Chesney became the first UCLA coach to start his tenure 5-0.

He took a moment to soak it in before finding Oregon coach Dan Lanning for the postgame handshake.