Saturday, October 11
East Lansing, MI
9:00 AM (PT)
UCLA
2-4 , 2-1
38
at
13
Michigan State
3-3 , 0-3
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
UCLA
10
14
14
0
38
Michigan St.
7
0
0
6
13
Jalen Berger
Photo by: Isabella Serafini
UCLA Football Produces Another Hit in 38-13 Win at Michigan State
October 11, 2025 | Football
East Lansing, Mich. - UCLA proved it was much more than a one-hit wonder. After last week's historic upset win over No. 7 Penn State, the Bruins produced another platinum hit with a 38-13 road victory over Michigan State.
The Bruins (2-4, 2-1 in the Big Ten) scored 38 straight points after the Spartans (3-3, 0-3) scored on their opening drive. Fourth down conversions played a big role in the decisive victory, as UCLA was perfect on fourth down conversions, converting all three on the offensive end and stopping all four on the defensive side.
"(To not be one-hit wonders) was a message starting on Sunday," said UCLA interim head coach Tim Skipper. "We preach it every day moving up. We just wanted to see who we really were, that was the whole thing about it. We wanted to come out and play 60 minutes of football, and we did that today. We strained, not being one-hit wonders, all those things, we're putting them all into the games now and that's exciting to see. We'll have to continue that. The future is going to get harder and harder as we keep on going. We'll have a tough matchup on homecoming playing against Maryland. We're going to need all the Bruin fans to be there, that's the start of the message right now. Start thinking about how you're going to get to the Rose Bowl next Saturday."
UCLA running back Jalen Berger returned to his former school and scored three touchdowns - one rushing and two receiving. He finished with 83 yards rushing and 24 yards receiving. Bruin quarterback Nico Iamaleava was 16-for-24 for 180 yards with three touchdown passes.
After the Bruins went three and out on its opening drive, the Spartans used 10 plays to drive 59 yards for the game's first score, on a two-yard Adrian Chiles touchdown run. UCLA answered back, however, with a 47-yard field goal by Mateen Bhaghani to trim Michigan State's lead to 7-3 with 4:41 to play in the first.
UCLA's defense made two huge stops on Michigan State's next drive. Cole Martin tackled Elijah Tau-Tolliver one-yard shy of a first down on 3rd and 6, and Kechaun Bennett, with the help of Anthony Jones, stopped Mahki Frazier at the line of scrimmage on 4th and 1 to force a turnover on downs at the Michigan State 34. The Bruins quickly made the Spartans pay, with Berger taking a direct snap and running it in for a 16-yard touchdown to gain a 10-7 lead.
The Bruins faced their own fourth down decision on their next drive, with 4th and 2 looming on their 45. UCLA lined up to punt but called a fake instead, with Cole Martin taking a direct snap and rushing 20 yards to the Spartan 35 for the first down. Iamaleava converted a second fourth down in the drive on 4th and 1 on the four to extend the drive, and on the next play, he hit Berger on a three-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 17-7.
UCLA's defense continued to step up on the next drive, as Devin Aupiu sacked Chiles to force a fumble, which was recovered by Siale Taupaki at the Michigan State 32. Eight plays later, Iamaleava found Titus Mokiao-Atimalala for a 12-yard touchdown to make it 24-7 Bruins, a score they took to the half.
Another fourth down stop highlighted the start of the third quarter. On the opening play of the drive, Andre Jordan Jr. broke up a 4th and 6 pass by backup quarterback Alessio Milivojevic, giving UCLA the ball on downs on its 38. The Bruins drove down to the seven yard line and converted their third consecutive fourth down play, with Berger rushing four yards for a first down. Two plays later, Jaivian Thomas took a direct snap and punched it in for a one-yard touchdown and 31-7 lead. Thomas's run was aided by a block by Taupaki, the defensive lineman playing on the offensive side on the drive.
The Bruins stopped another fourth down play on 4th and 1 on the Michigan State 34 with 2:56 to play in the third quarter. Martin made the stop with a tackle for loss on Frazier, and four plays later, Iamaleava hit Berger for a three-yard touchdown pass, the running back's third touchdown of the day.
Scooter Jackson led the Bruin defense with seven tackles. Martin was close behind with six.
UCLA held the advantage in total yards, 418-253 and outgained the Spartans in rushing yards, 238-87. The Bruins had zero turnovers for the second consecutive game.
The Bruins will next play Maryland at the Rose Bowl on Saturday, Oct. 18. UCLA's Homecoming game will kick off at 4pm. Tickets are on sale now at uclabruins.com/tickets.
The Bruins (2-4, 2-1 in the Big Ten) scored 38 straight points after the Spartans (3-3, 0-3) scored on their opening drive. Fourth down conversions played a big role in the decisive victory, as UCLA was perfect on fourth down conversions, converting all three on the offensive end and stopping all four on the defensive side.
"(To not be one-hit wonders) was a message starting on Sunday," said UCLA interim head coach Tim Skipper. "We preach it every day moving up. We just wanted to see who we really were, that was the whole thing about it. We wanted to come out and play 60 minutes of football, and we did that today. We strained, not being one-hit wonders, all those things, we're putting them all into the games now and that's exciting to see. We'll have to continue that. The future is going to get harder and harder as we keep on going. We'll have a tough matchup on homecoming playing against Maryland. We're going to need all the Bruin fans to be there, that's the start of the message right now. Start thinking about how you're going to get to the Rose Bowl next Saturday."
UCLA running back Jalen Berger returned to his former school and scored three touchdowns - one rushing and two receiving. He finished with 83 yards rushing and 24 yards receiving. Bruin quarterback Nico Iamaleava was 16-for-24 for 180 yards with three touchdown passes.
After the Bruins went three and out on its opening drive, the Spartans used 10 plays to drive 59 yards for the game's first score, on a two-yard Adrian Chiles touchdown run. UCLA answered back, however, with a 47-yard field goal by Mateen Bhaghani to trim Michigan State's lead to 7-3 with 4:41 to play in the first.
UCLA's defense made two huge stops on Michigan State's next drive. Cole Martin tackled Elijah Tau-Tolliver one-yard shy of a first down on 3rd and 6, and Kechaun Bennett, with the help of Anthony Jones, stopped Mahki Frazier at the line of scrimmage on 4th and 1 to force a turnover on downs at the Michigan State 34. The Bruins quickly made the Spartans pay, with Berger taking a direct snap and running it in for a 16-yard touchdown to gain a 10-7 lead.
The Bruins faced their own fourth down decision on their next drive, with 4th and 2 looming on their 45. UCLA lined up to punt but called a fake instead, with Cole Martin taking a direct snap and rushing 20 yards to the Spartan 35 for the first down. Iamaleava converted a second fourth down in the drive on 4th and 1 on the four to extend the drive, and on the next play, he hit Berger on a three-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 17-7.
UCLA's defense continued to step up on the next drive, as Devin Aupiu sacked Chiles to force a fumble, which was recovered by Siale Taupaki at the Michigan State 32. Eight plays later, Iamaleava found Titus Mokiao-Atimalala for a 12-yard touchdown to make it 24-7 Bruins, a score they took to the half.
Another fourth down stop highlighted the start of the third quarter. On the opening play of the drive, Andre Jordan Jr. broke up a 4th and 6 pass by backup quarterback Alessio Milivojevic, giving UCLA the ball on downs on its 38. The Bruins drove down to the seven yard line and converted their third consecutive fourth down play, with Berger rushing four yards for a first down. Two plays later, Jaivian Thomas took a direct snap and punched it in for a one-yard touchdown and 31-7 lead. Thomas's run was aided by a block by Taupaki, the defensive lineman playing on the offensive side on the drive.
The Bruins stopped another fourth down play on 4th and 1 on the Michigan State 34 with 2:56 to play in the third quarter. Martin made the stop with a tackle for loss on Frazier, and four plays later, Iamaleava hit Berger for a three-yard touchdown pass, the running back's third touchdown of the day.
Scooter Jackson led the Bruin defense with seven tackles. Martin was close behind with six.
UCLA held the advantage in total yards, 418-253 and outgained the Spartans in rushing yards, 238-87. The Bruins had zero turnovers for the second consecutive game.
The Bruins will next play Maryland at the Rose Bowl on Saturday, Oct. 18. UCLA's Homecoming game will kick off at 4pm. Tickets are on sale now at uclabruins.com/tickets.
Team Stats
UCL
MSU
Total Yards
418
253
Pass Yards
180
166
Rushing Yards
238
87
Penalty Yards
60
14
1st Downs
20
14
3rd Downs
6
8
4th Downs
3
0
TOP
36:24
23:36
1st Quarter
UCL 0, MSU 7
MSU - Chiles,Aidan 2 yd run (Connington,Martin kick), 10 plays, 59 yards, TOP 04:49
UCL 3, MSU 7
UCL - Bhaghani,Mateen 47 yd field goal 10 plays, 46 yards, TOP 04:26
UCL 10, MSU 7
UCL - Berger,Jalen 16 yd run (Bhaghani,Mateen kick), 3 plays, 34 yards, TOP 01:25
2nd Quarter
UCL 17, MSU 7
UCL - Berger,Jalen 3 yd pass from Iamaleava,Nico (Bhaghani,Mateen kick) 10 plays, 63 yards, TOP 05:21
UCL 24, MSU 7
UCL - Mokiao-Atimalala,Titus 12 yd pass from Iamaleava,Nico (Bhaghani,Mateen kick) 8 plays, 32 yards, TOP 04:05
3rd Quarter
UCL 31, MSU 7
UCL - Thomas,Jaivian 1 yd run (Bhaghani,Mateen kick), 11 plays, 62 yards, TOP 06:46
UCL 38, MSU 7
UCL - Berger,Jalen 13 yd pass from Iamaleava,Nico (Bhaghani,Mateen kick) 4 plays, 33 yards, TOP 01:12
4th Quarter
UCL 38, MSU 13
MSU - Marsh,Nick 5 yd pass from Milivojevic,Alessio () 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:35
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
16
TD
3
YDS
180
INT
0
Players Mentioned
DL
/ Football
DL
/ Football
RB
/ Football
K
/ FootballQB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DL
/ Football
RB
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