UCLA vs. Michigan State: A Historical Look at Football and Beyond
The expansion of the Big Ten Conference to include the UCLA Bruins and USC Trojans has sparked interest among fans, particularly regarding the historical matchups these new members bring. This article delves into the history between Michigan State University (MSU) and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), primarily focusing on football and men’s basketball, with glimpses into other sports.
Football: A Balanced Gridiron History
Michigan State and UCLA have a closely contested football history, standing at 3-3. The series is evenly split, with three games being Rose Bowl matchups and the other three taking place on campus. While MSU won the initial three encounters, UCLA is currently on a three-game winning streak.
However, the margin of victory leans heavily towards UCLA. In their most recent meeting in 1974, the Bruins secured a decisive 56-14 victory at home. Conversely, the Spartans' largest win was a 13-3 triumph at home in East Lansing.
Among Big Ten teams, MSU is tied for the seventh-most games played against UCLA, alongside Penn State and Northwestern. Nebraska leads with 13 games against the Bruins. Michigan boasts the highest win percentage in the league against UCLA at 72 percent.
MSU-UCLA All-Time Football Series
| Date | Season | Location | Field | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/28/1974 | 1974 | Pasadena, Calif. | Away | L 14-56 |
| 9/29/1973 | 1973 | East Lansing, Mich. | Home | L 21-34 |
| 1/1/1966 | 1965 | Pasadena, Calif. | Neutral | L 12-14 |
| 9/18/1965 | 1965 | East Lansing, Mich. | Home | W 13-3 |
| 1/2/1956 | 1955 | Pasadena, Calif. | Neutral | W 17-14 |
| 1/1/1954 | 1953 | Pasadena, Calif. | Neutral | W 28-20 |
Program Achievements: UCLA vs. Michigan State
A comparison of program achievements highlights the historical success of both UCLA and Michigan State.
Read also: UCLA vs. Illinois: Basketball History
UCLA:
- 613-444-37 All-time record (38th in FBS)
- 1 National Championship
- 17 Conference Championships
- 36 Bowl game appearances (16-19-1 record)
- 41 Consensus All-Americans
- 1 Heisman winner
- 333 NFL Draft picks (15th in FBS)
- 537 Weeks in AP Poll (seven at No. 1)
Michigan State:
- 721-472-44 All-time record (26th in FBS)
- 6 National Championships
- 9 Conference Championships
- 30 Bowl game appearances (14-16-0 record)
- 32 Consensus All-Americans
- 0 Heisman winners
- 319 NFL Draft picks (16th in FBS)
- 416 Weeks in AP Poll (29 at No. 1)
Men’s Basketball: A More Recent Rivalry
The men’s basketball series between Michigan State and UCLA mirrors the football record at 3-3. However, this series is more recent and less balanced in win order.
UCLA won the first meeting in 2003, with MSU reciprocating the following year. MSU then secured a winning streak with victories in 2018 and 2019 on neutral courts. The 2018 Vegas victory represents the largest win margin in the series, 87-67.
The teams have also clashed twice in the NCAA Tournament, with UCLA winning both games in 2011 and 2021.
MSU-UCLA All-Time Basketball Series
| Date | Season | Location | Field | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/18/2021 | 2020-21 | West Lafayette, IN | Neutral | L 80-86 (OT) |
| 11/27/2019 | 2019-20 | Lahaina, HI | Neutral | W 75-62 |
| 11/22/2018 | 2018-19 | Las Vegas, NV | Neutral | W 87-67 |
| 3/17/2011 | 2010-11 | Tampa, FL | Neutral | L 76-78 |
| 12/21/2004 | 2004-05 | East Lansing, Mich. | Home | W 76-64 |
| 12/20/2003 | 2003-04 | Los Angeles, CA | Away | L 58-64 |
Program Achievements: UCLA vs. Michigan State
Comparing the all-time achievements of the two basketball programs reveals their storied histories.
UCLA:
- 11 National Championships (seven consecutive from 1963-1973)
- 18 Final Four appearances (10 consecutive from 1967-1976)
- 49 NCAA Tournament appearances
- 37 Conference Championships
- 4 Conference Tournament Championships
Michigan State:
- 2 National Championships
- 10 Final Four appearances
- 35 NCAA Tournament appearances (Including an active streak)
- 16 Conference Championships
- 6 Conference Tournament Championships
Other Sports: A Quick Glance
Beyond football and men's basketball, Michigan State and UCLA have competed in other sports, with varying degrees of success.
Read also: Navigating Tech Breadth at UCLA
Women’s Basketball
Michigan State's women’s basketball team has faced UCLA once, securing a 47-43 victory on Dec. 19, 2003, at UCLA.
Volleyball
The volleyball teams have met three times, with UCLA holding a 2-1 edge. Their first match was in 2000, and their most recent was in the 2012 NCAA Tournament, which MSU won 3-1.
Baseball
Michigan State's baseball team is 0-4 against UCLA. The matchups occurred between 2015 and 2018, with UCLA winning all contests.
Softball
The Spartans’ softball program holds a 1-4 record against the Bruins. Their first meeting was in 2003, and their most recent was in 2018.
Looking Ahead: A Coach's Perspective
As UCLA transitions into the Big Ten, the football matchup against Michigan State is drawing attention. Ahead of a recent game, UCLA's interim head coach Tim Skipper shared his insights on Michigan State:
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- "Well-coached team," Skipper said. "One thing that sticks out to me is that they're not penalized a lot. Their penalties are way down, so they're going to force you to play ball."
- "On offense, they're a time-of-possession [team]. They want to win that category," Skipper said. "They're not going to go fast. They're going to take their time. They're an 11 and 12 personnel type team as their base. They'll get into their big boy stuff, too, when it's short yards and things like that."
- "On defense, they're a four-down operation. They're going to play man and they're going to play some Cover Four. When they get to third downs, that's when they're going to get a little exotic and try to heat us up and pressure us a little bit, so we have to be ready for their five-man and six-man pressures."
- "They play hard, man. You see 'em on film, they tackle well, guys are pursuing when they're on defense. On offense, they're controlling it, they want to win on the ground. They have a very athletic quarterback that causes a lot of problems.
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