A soggy Friday night and a frightening quarterback injury could not slow down the No. 4 UCLA Bruins. Head coach Bob Chesney guided his squad to a gritty 22-14 victory over the Illinois Fighting Illini on Nov. 13 at the Rose Bowl, pushing UCLA to 10-0 for the first time in the 21st century.
The Bruins matched the single-season school record for wins and joined Bob Toledo's 1998 group and the 1946 squad as the only teams in program history to open a campaign with 10 straight victories.
UCLA struck fast on its opening drive when quarterback Ty Dieffenbach hit wide receiver Aidan Mizell for a 54-yard touchdown. Mizell dominated the wet conditions with six catches for 176 yards, accounting for nearly half of UCLA's 361 total yards.
Disaster nearly derailed the celebration late in the second quarter. Dieffenbach suffered a shoulder injury under heavy pressure with 35 seconds left in the half, forcing backup quarterback Madden Iamaleava into action.
UCLA's defense held the line while Dieffenbach received treatment. Defensive lineman Aiden Gobaira sacked Illinois quarterback Katin Houser in the end zone early in the third quarter for a safety, and cornerback Scooter Jackson snagged his first of two interceptions to keep the Fighting Illini off the scoreboard until late in the frame.
Article Continues BelowDieffenbach trotted back onto the field to a massive ovation and immediately delivered. He completed all five passes on a fourth-quarter march, capping it with a 26-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Semaj Morgan, who finished with four receptions for 56 yards. Dieffenbach closed the night 13 of 20 for 232 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
Houser threw for 176 yards and two scores, connecting with tight end Kaden Feagin and wide receiver Collin Dixon, to pull Illinois (6-4) within five points. Still, UCLA held Illinois to 240 total yards, and Jackson's second pick with 2:42 left plus Mateen Bhaghani's 37-yard field goal sealed the historic win.