No. 12 UCLA kept rolling, shutting down Wisconsin 17-7 and pushing their record to a perfect 6-0, something they haven’t done since way back in 2022. What’s wild? They did it all with backup quarterback Ty Dieffenbach making his first start as a Bruin, stepping in for the injured starter Nico Iamaleava. This team is for real, folks, and new coach Bob Chesney is already setting records, becoming the first UCLA coach to kick off his tenure with six straight wins.
Dieffenbach’s Daring Debut Under Center
Ty Dieffenbach wasn’t messing around in his first-ever start. The kid went 22 of 33 for a solid 264 yards, carving up the Badgers’ defense. Right from the jump, UCLA looked dialed in. Their opening drive was a masterclass in clock management and execution: 16 plays, 8:42 possession time, both season highs. Dieffenbach started hot, hitting six of eight passes to five different receivers to set up Mateen Bhaghani’s 24-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead. Then, Wayne Knight kept his incredible streak alive, punching in a 1-yard touchdown in the second quarter. That’s rushing scores in all six games for Knight this season! UCLA went into halftime up 10-0, looking completely in control.
Wisconsin Fumbles Away Their Shot
Wisconsin tried to make it a game, closing the gap to 10-7 in the third quarter on Colton Joseph’s 3-yard TD run. Joseph was their leading rusher with 18 carries for 71 yards, but his passing game struggled, going just 6 of 16 for 66 yards. The Badgers shot themselves in the foot all night with penalties, racking up 10 for 102 yards, including four on their second drive alone. Oof. And when they did try to make a run in the fourth quarter, it all fell apart. Safety Matt Jung got ejected for targeting during a drive where Anthony Woods eventually scored on a 3-yard run to extend UCLA’s lead to 17-7. Then, on Wisconsin’s next possession, Darrion Dupree looked like he had a first down at the UCLA 46. Nope! Sammy Omosigho made a crucial stop, the call got overturned after review, and UCLA got the ball back with only 8:43 left. Talk about deflating for the Badgers. Wisconsin even missed their first field goal of the season, a 46-yarder from Gavin Lahm, which was wide right and kept them trailing 10-0 at the half. Their offense was sputtering, going 1 for 6 on third down in the first half and holding the ball for only 11 1/2 minutes compared to UCLA’s 18 1/2.
Undefeated Streak Continues: What’s Next?
This UCLA team is making some serious noise. They’re the only undefeated squad left in the Big Ten and SEC, and after four higher-ranked teams took losses Saturday, you know they’re climbing into the top 10. This is a huge turnaround after winning only three games last season. They’ve got a favorable schedule coming up too, with Michigan State, Nevada, Minnesota, Illinois, and Michigan before that crosstown showdown with USC to wrap up the regular season. Up next, the Bruins host Michigan State next Saturday, right in the middle of a three-game homestand. Can they keep the undefeated dream alive? You bet your bottom dollar we’ll be watching!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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