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.
“Just a battle. These guys came to play. Hats off to them and their coaches and just their ability to tame our run game,” Chesney said of Wisconsin.
With UCLA struggling to get a push at the point of attack and the Wisconsin defense sealing the edge, the Bruins put their trust in Dieffenbach, who started in his first Football Bowl Subdivision game following Nico Iamaleava sustaining a knee injury against Oregon last week that could keep the senior out for the remainder of the season.
The understudy shined in the spotlight.
“Ty, what a job to stand in there and have the confidence to do what he did,” Chesney said. “The third-down throws that he was able to make and see the game clean as can be, get us in the right calls, the right protections. It was a really reassuring day for us with him, and him with himself, and him with his teammates.
“What a warrior all the way around for a lot of people in here, but him in particular, the mental game of football that he played today was impressive.”
Even though expectations were tempered for Dieffenbach, he largely did not miss a beat, completing 22 of 33 passes for 264 yards — just 12 yards shy of Iamaleava’s career-best game as a Bruin.
Dieffenbach set up UCLA’s first touchdown in the second quarter when he completed a 21-yard pass to Jalen Saint Paul one play before Knight scored on a one-yard carry.
UCLA quarterback Ty Dieffenbach reacts after the Bruins’ win over Wisconsin at the Rose Bowl on Saturday.
(Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)
UCLA’s second score — a touchdown that put the Bruins up 10 points in the fourth quarter — capped Dieffenbach’s most impressive drive. Starting at the UCLA 11, Dieffenbach connected on passes of 28 and 33 yards on a drive that culminated with Anthony Woods scoring on a three-yard run.
“We put that in this week. The coaches saw that it was a weak spot in their defense to hit that, and I think we got it twice in practice this week,” UCLA senior wide receiver Landon Ellis said of Dieffenbach’s 28-yard pass to him on first-and-18 near the Bruins’ end zone. “It was good preparation from Monday to today and it showed up.”
Dieffenbach looked poised in the pocket as he made passes under pressure. He excelled on third down, with UCLA converting on 13 of 20 tries. He threw one interception, which came on a Hail Mary as time expired in the second quarter, and took just one sack.
“His pre-snap thought process is phenomenal,” Chesney said. “His ability to see the pictures and understand the tendencies, and at the same time confirm them right before the snap is what leads him to be able to understand exactly where the voids in the zones will live, and to deliver the ball quickly on the proper shoulder away from leverage.
“Those were all things that he just did a phenomenal job of. Just watching out there, how quick he got rid of it, how confidently he got rid of it and his belief in himself and his receivers certainly stood out.”
UCLA running back Wayne Knight breaks a tackle from Wisconsin safety Marvin Burks Jr. during the second quarter Saturday.
(Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)
Dieffenbach didn’t play during two seasons at Pittsburgh, then fought through injuries during one season at Cal Poly before landing at the bottom of UCLA’s depth chart. The game was meaningful for the Calabasas native and Agoura High alum who dreamed of going to UCLA.
He recalled sitting in the Rose Bowl with his brother in 2022, watching UCLA play.
“Tonight, for me before the game, I was just saying it’s another game,” Dieffenbach said. “But definitely in that fourth quarter when we’re doing ‘California Love,’ and just five years ago I’m sitting in the stands watching guys do this, and now I’m there. It was special to me.”
Giving Dieffenbach some breathing room, UCLA’s defense dominated again, holding Wisconsin (4-2, 2-1) to 214 total yards.
Wisconsin running back Darrion Dupree is tackled by UCLA defensive lineman Sahir West during the second quarter.
(Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)
Even without UCLA starting outside cornerback Rodrick Pleasant, the Bruins’ secondary blanketed the Badgers in coverage, giving up just 66 passing yards, with Wisconsin’s top receiver Jaylon Domingeaux finishing with 26 yards.
“We were physical inside, but the pass game was what I was impressed with,” Chesney said. “Holding them to 66 yards, and there were moments that they were throwing this thing up, and our coverage I thought was really spot on, just based on what our coaches had helped prepare for all week long.”
And while the “Bruin Bullies” held up at the line of scrimmage against the Badgers’ tailbacks, Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph ran for 71 yards and one touchdown, using various formations and fakes to confuse the Bruins’ stacked box.
While UCLA failed to produce a takeaway for the first time this season — despite forcing two fumbles, both of which were recovered by Wisconsin — the Bruins made several key stops to help UCLA stay in control.
“Would have loved to jump on one of those fumbles, but it just came down to fundamentals,” UCLA sophomore linebacker Scott Taylor said. “That’s what we talked about all week … it’s going to be a battle between our fundamentals and theirs, and we played really sound football. Obviously, that early drive in the second half, we got gashed a couple times, but overall, in terms of run fits and being really sound in the back end, I thought we did a really nice job.”
A 10-yard sack from fifth-year linebacker Jalen Woods on third down late in the second quarter led to an unsuccessful 46-yard field-goal attempt by Gavin Lahm, leaving Wisconsin scoreless at halftime.
After Wisconsin scored its only touchdown and subsequently forced UCLA into a three and out late in the third quarter, the Badgers had the ball with a chance to take the lead. But the Bruins forced two incomplete passes and stuffed Joseph at the line to force a punt.
UCLA wide receiver Brian Rowe Jr. celebrates after making a catch in the second quarter Saturday against Wisconsin.
(Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)
In the fourth quarter, UCLA stopped running back Darrion Dupree short of a first down on fourth and two at the Bruins’ 48 to all but end the Badgers’ hopes of a comeback.
After winning his 16th consecutive regular season game and helping UCLA go 6-0 for the first time since 2022, Chesney said the Bruins are not ready to call their rebuilding effort a success yet.
“We never put limits on what we did or what we could or could not do, and we also didn’t make excuses,” Chesney said. “I never wanted to try to define anything, and instead just go out there and play and be the best that we possibly can be each and every single day. … It’s a build and it’s a slow process and it’s got to be done the right way. It’s got to be done the hard way, and I love what our guys did.”