GAME RECAP: No. 13 UCLA Stays Unbeaten at 6-0 for First Time Since 2022 with 17-7 Win Over Wisconsin

PASADENA, Calif. — The Rose Bowl spent Saturday evening in blue and gold and still could not keep the streak from growing.

No. 13 UCLA walked out of Pasadena with a 17-7 win over Wisconsin, a home result built on a methodical first half, two short touchdown runs, and a defense that limited the Badgers to one score. The Bruins improve to 6-0 and 4-0 in the Big Ten, their first 6-0 start since 2022. Wisconsin falls to 4-2 and 2-1. It came a week after UCLA’s signature road win at Oregon and without starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who is out with a season-ending injury.

UCLA opened the way a Bob Chesney team is supposed to open a Big Ten Saturday under the lights. Sixteen plays, 84 yards, and Mateen Bhaghani drilled a 24-yard field goal at 3:07 of the first. Wisconsin 0, UCLA 3.

The Bruins kept the ball and kept the pressure. Thirteen plays, 91 yards. Wayne Knight finished it from one yard out at 7:16 of the second. Bhaghani converted. 0-10. UCLA had the lead and the clock.

Wisconsin answered the only way Luke Fickell’s offense was going to answer — with the quarterback on the ground. Eleven plays, 44 yards. Colton Joseph punched it in from three yards out at 8:17 of the third. Gavin Lahm made it 7-10. The Badgers had life and the building had a pulse.

UCLA took it back. Six plays, 89 yards. Anthony Woods finished it from three yards out at 11:31 of the fourth. Bhaghani made it 17-7. That was the score that restored the cushion, and Wisconsin never got closer.

The box score is the part that will travel on Sunday. UCLA finished with roughly 384 total yards (264 pass, 120 rush). Wisconsin managed about 214 (66 pass, 148 rush). Ty Dieffenbach went 22-of-33 for 264 yards with one interception (team threw two). Semaj Morgan caught five balls for 84 yards. Anthony Woods added eight carries for 39 yards and a touchdown. Wayne Knight had 13 carries for 23 yards and the other score. Colton Joseph finished 6-of-16 for 66 yards and added 18 carries for 71 yards and Wisconsin’s only touchdown. Abu Sama III added six carries for 34. Marvin Burks Jr. had two interceptions for the Badgers.

The Rose Bowl is supposed to be the place where undefeated teams come to get tested. Saturday it was the place where the Bruins ran the ball when it mattered, protected the lead, and finally reached 6-0 for the first time since 2022.

Player of the Game: Ty Dieffenbach. Twenty-two completions for 264 yards in his first full start of the season, enough efficiency to keep the chains moving without the usual starter, and the quarterback who helped UCLA stay perfect.