Michigan State gets blown out by UCLA for homecoming, losing 38-13

Michigan State was the favored team at home Saturday for its homecoming game against UCLA, but the injury report released shortly before kick should have caused a pause for anyone optimistic about the Spartans' chances. Four painful quarters later and MSU dropped its third straight Big Ten game 38-13 to fall to 3-3 on the season and 0-3 in league play.

MSU finished with just 253 yards of offense compared to UCLA's 418. The Spartans were outrushed by 151 yards, gaining just 87 compared to the 238 given up to UCLA. Aidan Chiles finished the day eight-for-17 for 66 yards while Alessio Miliojevic was called up in the third quarter to finish the game after Chiles was injured and finished eight-for-18. Miliojevic also threw for one touchdown while Chiles scored one on the ground.

Nick Marsh led the receiving corps with seven catches on 15 targets for 77 yards. Makhi Frazier led the ground attack with 58 yards on 12 carries, leading in averages with 4.8 per carry and in the game long of 13 yards for MSU. Defensively, Jordan Hall led the Spartans with seven tackles, including four solo.

Former Spartan Jalen Berger had his best game ever at Spartan Stadium, catching two touchdown passes on three receptions and rushing for another among his 83 yards on 13 carries, including a long of 24 while averaging 6.4 per carry. UCLA finished the day with 238 yards on the ground on 42 carries while gaining another 180 yards in the air on 24 pass attempts, completing 16 while throwing no interceptions or giving up any fumbles.

First Half

Things started out well enough for the Spartans in this one as MSU forced an immediate punt by the Bruins before marching it 59 yards over 10 plays for a touchdown. The score on its opening drive marked the fifth time UCLA had given up a touchdown on the opening drive of an opponent this season.

It only went downhill from there for MSU as the Spartans gave up a 47-yard field goal on UCLA's next drive and opted to go for it on fourth-and-one (less than a full yard, but definitely more than just inches) despite being deep in Bruins' territory. The offense was unable to convert and MSU turned it over on downs at its own 34 yard line. The Bruins took the lead with a touchdown three plays later and never looked back as they opened up a 10-7 lead with 1:39 left in the first quarter.

The Spartans were unable to leave their own territory for the rest of the first half while the Bruins scored touchdowns on their next two drives. On MSU's first drive of the second quarter, Chiles was also stripped of the ball as he appeared to be tucking it for a run and UCLA recovered it at the MSU 32 yard line.

Finally on its final drive of the half, UCLA was able to drive down to the MSU 29 yard line but had to settle for a field goal attempt with just 1:19 left in the half. The kick was off the left upright and MSU took over on downs. The Spartans were unable to piece together a drive for long and punted it away while UCLA kneeled it out to take a 24-7 lead into the locker room at the half.

UCLA dominated MSU in the stats on the half, averaging 5.7 yards per rush, going 12-for-19 through the air, and controlling time of possession 18:26-11:34.

Second Half

The woes continued for Michigan State in the second half as the Spartans turned it over on downs on its first two possessions, first at the UCLA 38 and then at the MSU 33. On the initial drive for the Spartans, Chiles took a rough hit that should have been reviewed for targeting but didn't seem to bother getting one much to criticism by fans and media while he was helped off the field following a pause in play. Alessio Milivojevic was brought in at quarterback to finish out the drive and remained under center for the rest of the game. Both offensive possessions for the Bruins following the turnover on downs by MSU resulted in touchdowns for UCLA as the Bruins stretched their lead out to 38-7.

The Spartans finally found the end zone again as their drive stretched from the third into the beginning of the fourth quarter. MSU mounted a nine play, 75-yard drive to cut their deficit to 38-13 after the PAT went wide left.

Both teams stalled out offensively from there and with the Bruins running the clock out with six straight runs on their final offensive possession to end the game.

MSU heads to Bloomington next Saturday to take on Indiana. Kick is set for 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time with the game being broadcast exclusively on Peacock. IU is set to take on Oregon in Eugene later today.