Saturday’s 17-7 win by No. 9 UCLA over Wisconsin did more than move the Bruins into the top ten. It also gave USC another useful look at what’s waiting on the Trojans’ schedule.
USC has five remaining opponents, and Wisconsin and UCLA are both on that list. With the Badgers and Bruins meeting in Pasadena during a wild Week 7, the Trojans got a snapshot of two teams they’ll have to navigate in late November.
What stood out most was how far UCLA has come under first-year coach Bob Chesney. The Bruins beat Oregon in Eugene the week before taking down Wisconsin, and they did it without starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava. Backup Ty Dieffenbach stepped in and handled the job.
In his first start as a Bruin, the former FCS Cal Poly quarterback threw for more than 250 yards without a touchdown pass. He operated as a pocket passer and repeatedly found open receivers on deeper throws.
UCLA’s ground game still had its moments, even with senior Wayne Knight held to 23 rushing yards and one touchdown. Anthony Woods and Jaivian Thomas helped pick up the slack when needed, giving Chesney enough balance to stay in control.
That balance is exactly what USC’s defense will have to sort out. Against Wisconsin, the Badgers showed one way to attack the Bruins: make the quarterback carry more of the burden. Colton Joseph did that, rushing for 71 yards and a touchdown.
For the Trojans, slowing Knight will be a major piece of the puzzle when they see UCLA. If Lincoln Riley and defensive coordinator Gary Patterson can bottle him up the way Wisconsin did, Chesney may have to lean even harder on the passing game.
USC will also need to deal with UCLA’s ability to own the clock. In all but one game this season, the Bruins have had the edge in time of possession.
Saturday was no different, as UCLA kept its first possession for more than eight and a half minutes. That kind of extended drive is exactly the sort of thing the Trojans will need to cut short.
Wisconsin’s defense also offered USC a reminder that UCLA’s offense can be rattled. The Badgers intercepted Dieffenbach twice, including once on a trick play. If Riley has any gadgetry in mind for Wisconsin, that turnover margin has to be part of the equation.
The same caution applies to USC quarterback Jayden Maiava. He has only thrown three interceptions this season, but one of them came late against Oregon in a game the Trojans couldn’t close out. The cleaner version of Maiava - the one USC got against Penn State - has to show up again.
The timing of USC’s bye week may help. It gave extra recovery time to injured players such as tight end Mark Bowman and offensive lineman Elijah Paige, though it remains unclear whether either will be available on Saturday.
Now the challenge shifts to Camp Randall Stadium, where Riley’s team will need to carry the Penn State momentum into another difficult road setting. The Trojans handled that atmosphere in Happy Valley. They’ll need that same edge again.
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UCLAs unbeaten start got another boost at home against Wisconsin, and the Bruins are beginning to look less like a pleasant surprise and more like a team with real staying power. The win pushed them to 6-0, with Ty Dieffenbach giving the offense a steadier shape and Semaj Morgan continuing to emerge as a dependable target in the passing game.
Defensively, Jalen Woods was right in the middle of it, helping set the tone for a unit that kept Wisconsin from settling in. The combination of a more settled passing attack, a trustworthy receiving option and Woods presence on defense is changing how this team is being viewed, and UCLA now has the kind of balance that can carry a season much further than early optimism usually does. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA Stayed Perfect But One Concern Just Got Harder To Ignore
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The discipline piece was just as notable. UCLA was flagged eight times for 78 yards, the kind of self-inflicted damage that can quietly chip away at momentum as the schedule tightens. With Jayden Maiava waiting on the remaining slate and offering a similar rushing challenge, the Bruins may need a cleaner answer soon if they want to keep the same margin for error. [Read more 🡒]