UCLA Beats Illinois 22-14 in Rain to Reach 10-0 for First Time Since 1998

No. 4 UCLA beat Illinois 22-14 in a rain-soaked Friday night game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, reaching 10-0 for the first time since 1998. The Bruins survived a sloppy Week 11 contest in which quarterback Ty Dieffenbach was hurt before half-time and Illinois refused to go away. UCLA's defence forced three turnovers, Dieffenbach returned to lead a vital fourth-quarter touchdown drive, and the Bruins stayed perfect.

Key Points

• No. 4 UCLA beat Illinois 22-14 on Friday, November 13, 2026, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena in a rainy Week 11 game.
• UCLA moved to 10-0 for the first time since 1998, staying on course for a Big Ten title and a College Football Playoff place.
• Quarterback Ty Dieffenbach was hurt just before half-time, missed the start of the second half, then returned late in the third quarter and led a vital fourth-quarter touchdown drive. He finished 13 of 20 for 232 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
• Wide receiver Aidan Mizell caught six passes for 176 yards and a touchdown, the most productive receiver on either team.
• UCLA's defence forced three turnovers, all interceptions, with cornerback Scooter Jackson picking off Illinois quarterback Katin Houser twice. Illinois fell to 6-4.

What Happened

Rain fell on the Rose Bowl all night, and the football showed it. Both teams fought the conditions and each other through a messy first half, and the game turned on an injury scare just before the break. Senior quarterback Ty Dieffenbach was hurt before half-time and could not start the second half, leaving the unbeaten Bruins without their leader.

Dieffenbach came back. Near the end of the third quarter he ran back onto the field to cheers from the home crowd, and he began the fourth quarter by marching the Bruins down the field for a touchdown that proved vital. He finished 13 of 20 for 232 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. The fourth quarter was wild: both teams scored touchdowns, and Illinois kept coming until a late interception and a field goal sealed it. UCLA outgained Illinois 361-240 in total yards.

Background and Context

UCLA arrived at the Rose Bowl at 9-0 and ranked No. 4 in the country, the best start in Pasadena in nearly three decades. The last Bruins team to open 10-0 was the 1998 side, and this group has been chasing that mark all autumn under head coach Bob Chesney. The week before, UCLA stayed unbeaten by beating Minnesota 34-20 on the road, a week after shutting out Nevada 27-0 at the Rose Bowl.

Illinois came in at 6-3, a solid, bowl-bound team that had beaten Nebraska 24-13 the previous week to clinch bowl eligibility. The Fighting Illini had nothing to lose and a ranked scalp to gain, and for three quarters they made the Bruins earn every yard. Quarterback Katin Houser threw two touchdown passes, keeping Illinois in the game until the final minutes.

UCLA Beats Illinois: Dieffenbach's Return Turns the Game

The story of this UCLA win over Illinois is the return of Ty Dieffenbach. The senior quarterback, a former Cal Poly Mustang, looked finished for the night when he was hurt just before half-time. Things looked bleak without him, but near the end of the third quarter he ran back onto the field to cheers and took charge again. His fourth-quarter touchdown drive settled the game.

Dieffenbach has now shown twice in two weeks that he can win a game with one drive. Against Minnesota he threw two 75-yard touchdown passes to Aidan Mizell after the game was tied; against Illinois he came off the treatment table to deliver the drive that mattered. Mizell was again the difference-maker, with six receptions for 176 yards and a touchdown. His speed stretches defences and turns an ordinary throw into a huge gain.

Reactions and Quotes

The loudest reaction of the night came when Dieffenbach returned. The Rose Bowl crowd rose to cheer the senior quarterback as he ran back onto the field late in the third quarter, and he answered them with the touchdown drive that won the game. For a team chasing its first 10-0 start since 1998, the sight of its leader coming back was the moment of the season.

The UCLA defence also earned its praise. The Bruins have made turnovers a signature of their success all season, and against Illinois they were again the heart of the team, with three interceptions, a safety, two sacks and five tackles for loss. Scooter Jackson's two interceptions of Houser broke up Illinois drives at key moments.

Why It Matters

This win matters because it keeps UCLA perfect with the season's biggest games still to come. At 10-0, the Bruins control their own path to the Big Ten title game and to the College Football Playoff. The 1998 Bruins started 10-0 before their season ended in disappointment; this team wants a different ending.

It matters too because of how the win came. Championship teams are judged by what they do on bad nights, and this was a bad night: rain, a hurt quarterback, a stalled run game and an opponent that would not quit. UCLA found a way anyway, through its quarterback's return, its star receiver and a defence that takes the ball away. For Illinois, the loss drops the Fighting Illini to 6-4, but there was no disgrace in it: they pushed the No. 4 team to the final minutes, and their season still ends in a bowl game. For more on Illinois' season, read our report on Illinois beating Nebraska 24-13 to clinch a bowl spot.

What Happens Next

UCLA has a couple of games left, and the Bruins now face the hardest part: finishing an unbeaten season. The short-term question is Dieffenbach's health: he came back and won this game, but the Bruins need him fit for the run-in. The run game also needs attention, after senior running back Wayne Knight's nine-game touchdown streak ended and UCLA managed only 108 rushing yards. A win next week would take the Bruins to 11-0 and keep the dream of a perfect regular season alive. For more on UCLA's unbeaten run, read our report on UCLA staying unbeaten by beating Minnesota 34-20.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the score of UCLA vs Illinois? No. 4 UCLA beat Illinois 22-14 on Friday, November 13, 2026, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

How did UCLA reach 10-0? The Bruins won a rainy Week 11 game behind Dieffenbach's return from injury, Mizell's 176 receiving yards and a defence that forced three interceptions. It is UCLA's first 10-0 start since 1998.

What were Ty Dieffenbach's stats? Dieffenbach completed 13 of 20 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. He was hurt before half-time, missed the start of the second half and returned late in the third quarter.

Who starred for UCLA against Illinois? Wide receiver Aidan Mizell caught six passes for 176 yards and a touchdown, and cornerback Scooter Jackson intercepted Illinois quarterback Katin Houser twice.

What is next for UCLA? The Bruins have a couple of games left and stay on course for a Big Ten title and a College Football Playoff place.