UCLA continues bid for historic rise, will rock championship-inspired unis vs. MSU
UCLA’s football past will meet its present Saturday, in a melding of two glorious eras.Wearing baby blue throwback uniforms inspired by their 1954 national championship team, the Bruins will honor their greatest moment in program history.Of course, if their trajectory under coach Bob Chensey continues, their current iteration could challenge for that designation soon enough.A homecoming win over Michigan State would give No.9 UCLA (6-0 overall, 4-0 Big Ten) its eighth 7-0 start in program history and first since 2005.The Bruins are one of six remaining unbeaten teams in the nation and have already clinched bowl eligibility, though they have far bigger aspirations than spending late December along the banks of the San Antonio River in preparation for the Alamo Bowl.The uniforms that UCLA will wear when it faces the Spartans (2-5, 0-4) are also similar to the ones the team wore during its first Rose Bowl game victory, over Michigan State in 1966.
Members of that team will be honored during a 60th anniversary celebration.An even better way for the Bruins to celebrate their past will be to repeat it – one College Football Playoff quarterfinal will be played at the Rose Bowl on Jan.1.Here are five things to watch in a game that kicks off at 12:30 p.m.
PDT on CBS:UCLA might not be the only team playing a former backup quarterback Saturday.Michigan State starter Alessio Milivojevic has been listed as questionable on the Big Ten’s availability reports, thrusting the Spartans quarterback situation into uncertainty.With backup Cam Fancher remaining out, Michigan State might have to turn to freshman Kayd Coffman to make his first career start.Coffman has appeared in one game and has not thrown a pass.Meanwhile, the Bruins have full confidence in Ty Dieffenbach after he went from third-stringer to starter upon Nico Iamaleava’s midgame injury against Oregon.
Last week, Dieffenbach passed for a career-high 264 yards in leading his team over Wisconsin.“It didn’t fee...