Michigan State Drops Sixth Straight as No. 9 UCLA Pulls Away for 28–10 Victory

True freshman Kayd Coffman provides an early spark, but the Spartans manage just 156 total yards in another frustrating Big Ten defeat.

PASADENA, Calif. (October 24, 2026) — Michigan State entered Saturday’s matchup against No. 9 UCLA looking to end a five-game losing streak. For one quarter, the Spartans appeared capable of delivering a major upset.

But an encouraging start quickly turned into another disappointing afternoon.

UCLA defeated Michigan State 28–10 at the Rose Bowl, scoring 28 unanswered points after falling behind early and handing the Spartans their sixth consecutive loss.

Michigan State falls to 2–6 overall and 0–5 in Big Ten play, while UCLA improves to 7–0 and 5–0 in conference competition.

True freshman quarterback Kayd Coffman made his first collegiate start with Alessio Milivojevic and backup Cam Fancher unavailable due to injuries.

Despite an early touchdown pass from Coffman, Michigan State struggled to move the football consistently, finishing with just 156 yards of total offense.

For head coach Pat Fitzgerald, Saturday’s result raises more questions about an offense that has struggled throughout the season.

Coffman Gives Michigan State an Early Lead

Michigan State entered the game without several important offensive contributors, including starting quarterback Alessio Milivojevic and running back Jaziun Patterson.

That left Coffman, a freshman from East Kentwood High School, facing a difficult assignment against an undefeated UCLA team.

The young quarterback wasted little time making an impact.

With 5:31 remaining in the first quarter, Coffman connected with Kenneth Williams on a 14-yard touchdown pass.

The scoring play gave Michigan State a 7–0 lead and marked Coffman’s first collegiate touchdown pass.

For a Spartans team desperate for offensive momentum, the opening quarter provided reason for optimism.

But that momentum wouldn’t last.

UCLA Takes Control Before Halftime

The Bruins responded in the second quarter.

Jaivian Thomas scored on a seven-yard touchdown run to tie the game at seven.

Later in the quarter, Wayne Knight found the end zone on a one-yard run, giving UCLA a 14–7 halftime advantage.

Michigan State struggled to sustain drives after its opening touchdown.

The Spartans’ inability to establish a consistent running game allowed UCLA to increase pressure on the quarterbacks and control possession.

By halftime, Michigan State had surrendered its early advantage and was searching for another offensive spark.

Third Quarter Proves Decisive

UCLA put the game out of reach during the third quarter.

Quarterback Ty Dieffenbach connected with Brian Rowe Jr. for a 63-yard touchdown pass, extending the Bruins’ lead to 21–7.

Later in the quarter, Anthony Woods scored on a four-yard touchdown run.

The Bruins carried a commanding 28–7 advantage into the fourth quarter.

Michigan State’s defense struggled to contain UCLA’s balanced offensive attack.

The Bruins finished with 443 total yards, including 198 passing yards from Dieffenbach.

Woods led UCLA’s rushing attack with 112 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.

The Spartans had difficulty limiting explosive plays and preventing UCLA from controlling the pace of the game.

Michigan State’s Offense Never Recovers

Michigan State entered the fourth quarter trailing by three touchdowns.

The Spartans managed to add three points when Landon Boyd connected on a 46-yard field goal with 6:23 remaining.

But the offense couldn’t generate another touchdown.

Michigan State finished with just 156 total yards on 54 offensive plays, averaging 2.9 yards per play.

The Spartans also committed three turnovers and nine penalties for 79 yards.

Those mistakes made it difficult to sustain drives or establish momentum.

Coffman completed four of 10 passes for 42 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Leo Hannan also saw action at quarterback, completing nine of 15 passes for 67 yards and an interception.

Kenneth Williams led Michigan State’s rushing attack with 54 yards on 17 carries.

Chrishon McCray finished with three receptions for 42 yards.

For Michigan State, the numbers reflect an offense that never found its rhythm after the opening quarter.

Injuries Create Challenges, but Problems Run Deeper

Michigan State’s injury situation undoubtedly complicated Saturday’s matchup.

The Spartans were without their starting quarterback, backup quarterback and several important offensive contributors.

That forced the coaching staff to rely on inexperienced players against one of the nation’s strongest teams.

But injuries alone cannot explain Michigan State’s struggles.

The Spartans were unable to consistently protect their quarterbacks, establish a productive rushing attack or sustain drives.

Michigan State also committed three turnovers, repeatedly giving UCLA opportunities to control field position and possession.

Those issues have appeared throughout the season, even when the Spartans were healthier.

Saturday’s defeat demonstrated that Michigan State needs improvement across the entire offense, not simply at quarterback.

Bowl Eligibility Now in Serious Jeopardy

Michigan State’s sixth consecutive loss drops the program to 2–6.

With four regular-season games remaining, the Spartans must win all four to reach six victories, the standard benchmark for bowl eligibility.

That leaves virtually no room for error.

More importantly, Michigan State remains winless in Big Ten play.

The Spartans have experienced several frustrating losses this season, including narrow defeats against Illinois and Northwestern.

Saturday’s performance was different.

Michigan State struggled to remain competitive after the first quarter, highlighting the gap between the Spartans and one of the conference’s top teams.

For Fitzgerald, the challenge now becomes finding ways to keep the team competitive while continuing to develop younger players.

MCSN Take: Michigan State Needs More Than a Quarterback Change

There were reasons to feel encouraged when Kayd Coffman connected with Kenneth Williams for Michigan State’s opening touchdown.

A true freshman making his first collegiate start against a top-10 opponent delivered an early lead.

That deserves recognition.

But what happened afterward exposed the larger problems facing this program.

Michigan State cannot expect to win Big Ten games while producing just 156 yards of offense.

The Spartans have struggled to establish consistency regardless of who’s playing quarterback.

Injuries certainly matter, but the offensive line, running game and overall execution must improve.

Coffman should not be judged solely on Saturday’s performance. He was placed in an extremely difficult situation, and his first collegiate touchdown demonstrated some of his potential.

But Michigan State’s problems are bigger than one inexperienced quarterback.

Fitzgerald must find ways to generate offensive production, reduce mistakes and keep his team competitive.

The Spartans have now lost six consecutive games, and their opportunity to reach the postseason is rapidly disappearing.

At some point, Michigan State must stop talking about potential and start showing measurable progress on the field.

Saturday’s performance against UCLA showed just how much work remains.