PASADENA, Calif. — Michigan State grabbed an early lead off a takeaway Saturday afternoon at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., but No. 9 UCLA scored the next 28 points and beat the Spartans 28-10 to stay unbeaten.
True freshman Kayd Coffman got the start under center, making him the first true freshman to open a game at quarterback for Michigan State since Jeff Smoker in 2000. He hit 4 of 10 throws for 42 yards, including a 14-yard scoring pass to Kenneth Williams two plays after safety Devin Vaught stripped the Bruins and raced 56 yards to set it up.
The Spartans came into the day with only three takeaways in seven games, tied for the fewest nationally, and forced two fumbles in the first half. UCLA answered each one. A Coffman interception was run back 67 yards, Wayne Knight punched in a 1-yard score for a 14-7 halftime edge, and a 63-yard strike from Ty Dieffenbach to Brian Rowe Jr. early in the third quarter broke it open.
The Bruins piled up 443 yards to 156 for Michigan State and forced three turnovers to reach 7-0 overall and 5-0 in Big Ten play. Williams ran for a season-high 54 yards, and Liam Boyd added a 46-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. Michigan State drops to 2-6 and 0-5 in the league, has a bye on Oct. 31 and then plays at Michigan on Nov. 7.
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