No. 9 UCLA rallies past Michigan State 28-10 for its first 7-0 start since 2005

PASADENA, Calif. — Ty Dieffenbach threw a 63-yard touchdown pass and handed off for three others as No. 9 UCLA beat Michigan State 28-10 on Saturday for the Bruins’ first 7-0 start since 2005.

>UCLA (5-0 Big Ten) briefly trailed early for the first time since a 17-15 win at then-No. 13 Oregon two weeks ago. The Bruins outgained the Spartans 443-156.

>The undermanned and underdog Spartans (2-6, 0-5) led 7-0 after Devin Vaught recovered Jalen Woods’ fumble and ran 56 yards to the UCLA 15-yard line. That helped set up third-string quarterback Kayd Coffman’s 14-yard TD pass to Keshawn Williams in the first quarter.

>Making his first career start, Coffman completed 4 of 10 passes for 42 yards, one TD and one interception. Leo Hannan took over in the fourth and was 9 of 15 for 67 yards. He got picked off by UCLA’s Malik Hartford late in the game.

>After a sluggish start that included their first two fumbles at home, the Bruins pulled away.

>Jaivian Thomas’ 7-yard TD run tied it 7-all and Wayne Knight scored on a 1-yard plunge for his 12th TD on the ground — and 13th overall — that put UCLA ahead 14-7 in the second quarter.

>Dieffenbach, in his second start since Nico Iamaleava went down with a season-ending knee injury, hit Brian Rowe Jr. for a 63-yard TD to cap a four-play, 75-yard drive early in the third. Jalen Woods added a 4-yard TD run on the Bruins’ second possession of the quarter.

>Knight finished with 15 carries for 56 yards before leaving. Woods led the way with 12 carries for 87 yards.

>Dieffenbach completed 18 of 31 passes for 198 yards.

>The Spartans, who have lost six in a row, were already without their top two running backs. Then third-stringer Marvis Parrish got hurt on the third play of the game after a first down. He had to be helped off the field while leaning heavily on staffers on either side. The Spartans’ drive ended in a punt.

>Another Spartans player was injured on UCLA’s opening drive. Defensive tackle Ben Roberts went down a week after a career outing in a 24-21 loss to then-No. 25 Northwestern. He had career highs in tackles (8), tackles for loss (3) and two sacks.

>Liam Boyd kicked a 46-yard field goal that left the Spartans trailing 28-10 in the fourth. UCLA kicker Mateen Bhaghani missed wide right on a 54-yarder in the closing minutes.

The takeawayMichigan State: The Spartans head home even more battered and bruised than they were already.

>UCLA: The Bruins dominated the second and third quarters, when they outgained the Spartans 280-13. They could move up in the top 10 heading into a very winnable non-conference game next weekend.