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UCLA Beats Wisconsin 17-7 as Dieffenbach Starts

By Drooid · Oct 18, 2026, 2:49 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

UCLA Beats Wisconsin

UCLA Bruins beat Wisconsin Badgers 17-7 at the Rose Bowl.
Ty Dieffenbach started at quarterback because Nico Iamaleava was unavailable.
UCLA possessed the ball 37:02 and converted 13 of 20 third-down attempts.
Wisconsin recorded 214 total yards and incurred 10 penalties totaling 102 yards.
Coach Luke Fickell blamed poor discipline, penalties, and third-down defense for the loss.

Summary

Dieffenbach Becomes Starter

Dieffenbach entered the season as UCLA’s third-string quarterback and later became the starter.
He transferred from Cal Poly after two injury-marred seasons at Pittsburgh, never playing a game for the Panthers.
His mother’s battle with breast cancer served as his football “medicine” during college.
Fans from his hometown Agoura, about 38 miles away, filled the Rose Bowl stands.

Summary

Rose Bowl Honors

Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation honored the 2026 California High School Football Hall of Fame class.
Former UCLA standouts Travis Kirschke and James Washington were among the honorees.
Current UCLA special advisor Derek Carr, a Bakersfield High alumnus, also received recognition.
The halftime show featured the inaugural Bruin Classic corgi race with twelve dogs competing.

History

Historical Context

UCLA’s first Rose Bowl in January 1947 pitted the Bruins against Big Nine champion Illinois, which set a Rose Bowl record with 320 rushing yards and won 45-14. The loss marked the debut of the modern PCC-Big Ten tie-in and spurred UCLA’s long-term recruiting push, eventually producing teams that returned to dominate, as seen in the 2026 Rose Bowl victory over Wisconsin.

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UCLA Beats Wisconsin

UCLA Bruins beat Wisconsin Badgers 17-7 at the Rose Bowl.
Ty Dieffenbach started at quarterback because Nico Iamaleava was unavailable.
UCLA possessed the ball 37:02 and converted 13 of 20 third-down attempts.
Wisconsin recorded 214 total yards and incurred 10 penalties totaling 102 yards.
Coach Luke Fickell blamed poor discipline, penalties, and third-down defense for the loss.

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