Michigan State faces unbeaten UCLA: kickoff time, channel, stakes
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Kickoff is 12:30 am PKT on Sunday, October 25, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. CBS shows the game live.
- UCLA is 6-0 and can move to 7-0. Michigan State is 2-5 and has lost five games in a row.
- Michigan State starts a true freshman at quarterback. Thirteen Spartans are out, including the starting quarterback.
Michigan State visits UCLA at the Rose Bowl on Saturday. The Week 8 college football game kicks off at 12:30 pm in Pasadena.
That is 3:30 pm on the US East Coast. In Pakistan, kickoff is 12:30 am on Sunday, October 25.
CBS shows the game live in the United States. Fans can also stream it on Paramount+.
The build-up
UCLA comes into the game unbeaten. The Bruins have won all six of their games so far.
A win on Saturday would take them to 7-0. It would also keep their perfect season alive.
Michigan State comes in from the other direction. The Spartans are 2-5 this season.
They have lost five games in a row. They are still looking for their first Big Ten win of the season.
UCLA is a top-10 team in the national rankings. Michigan State must beat a ranked team on the road to end its losing run.
This is a homecoming game for UCLA. The Bruins will wear 1954 throwback uniforms for the day.
Those uniforms honor the UCLA team that won the national title in 1954. Michigan State will wear a green helmet, a white jersey, and green pants.
The two teams met last year as well. UCLA won that game 38-13 on the road in East Lansing.
Michigan State has not played at the Rose Bowl since January 1, 2014. On that day, the Spartans beat Stanford in the 100th Rose Bowl Game.
The quarterback story
The biggest story of the week is at quarterback. Both teams are missing their first-choice starter in some way.
UCLA turns to Ty Dieffenbach once again. This is his second start for the Bruins.
Dieffenbach is 6 feet 6 inches tall. He played well against Wisconsin last week, according to UCLA Wire.
He made his UCLA debut at Oregon earlier in the season. UCLA held off the Ducks in that road game.
Dieffenbach is only playing his third game for UCLA in total. He now leads a team that is chasing a 7-0 start.
UCLA captain Nico Iamaleava will miss the game. He is still recovering from surgery, according to UCLA Wire.
Michigan State has a bigger problem at the same position. The Spartans will play without 13 players in total.
Their starting quarterback, Alessio Milivojevic, is out. Their top two running backs are also out.
Cam Edwards and Jaziun Patterson will both miss the game. That leaves Michigan State short at two key spots.
True freshman Kayd Coffman will start at quarterback instead. He has not thrown a pass this season so far.
Coffman must now face a strong UCLA defense on the road. That defense has forced the second-most turnovers in the country.
UCLA forces 3.17 turnovers per game on average. That number is one of the best in college football.
Why it matters
This game matters for both teams for clear reasons. UCLA wants to stay unbeaten.
A 7-0 start would keep UCLA in the national title race. It would also build belief inside the team.
The Bruins do not rely on passing alone. UCLA has the 11th-best rushing offense in the country.
That running game gives Dieffenbach help. It also keeps the ball away from the other team.
Michigan State wants to stop its slide. A road win over a top-10 team would change the mood fast.
It would also give the Spartans their first Big Ten win of the season. That is a prize worth chasing.
Upsets are part of this season. Auburn beat Georgia 27-24 in another big game this season.
Michigan State will hope for the same kind of shock. But the injury list makes that task much harder.
UCLA is one of the unbeaten teams left in college football. Michigan State must find a way to hand the Bruins a first loss.
What happens next
The winner takes clear momentum into the rest of the season. The loser must regroup fast.
Michigan State has a bye week next. The Spartans do not play in Week 9, on October 31.
After the bye, a huge game waits. Michigan State plays Michigan on November 7.
That game takes place at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. Fans call that ground the Big House.
UCLA will look to keep its winning run going. Each win brings the Bruins closer to a special season.
Brad Nessler and Charles Davis will call the game on CBS. Jenny Dell will report from the sidelines.
For fans in Pakistan, the key facts are simple. Kickoff is 12:30 am on Sunday. The game is at the Rose Bowl.
One team chases perfection. The other chases a first Big Ten win. That clash is why so many fans are searching for this game today.
Week 8 of the college football season keeps moving. This game is one of its biggest tests.
Related stories
Why Is Altitude Sickness Worse for Some People?
Altitude sickness hits some people harder because of genetics, ascent speed, and prior history, not fitness level. Here is what raises risk
Why Do You Get Blisters When Hiking and How to Prevent Them
Friction plus moisture plus heat equals a blister. Learn why hiking breeds all three, and the boots, socks, and tape system that keeps
How to choose hiking boots for beginners: fit, features, and break-in
Beginners should buy for fit first: snug everywhere, tight nowhere, with a thumb's width at the toes. Here is how to size, test,