Michigan State vs. UCLA
Friday, January 1, 1954, Rose Bowl Share
No. 3 Michigan State beat No. 5 UCLA 28–20. It was their first meeting; after it, Michigan State led the series 1–0.
FinalTV: NBCAttendance 100,100Referee: George Rennix (Big Ten; split crew: Big Ten, Pacific Coast)
MVP Billy Wells (Michigan State HB)Wikipedia
On the newsreel
- ROSE BOWLThe annual Tournament of Roses is a colorful prelude to the Rose Bowl grid classic. Michigan State, powerhouse of the Big 10, comes from behind to beat underdog University of California Los Angeles, 28-20
Universal Newsreel, National Archives (catalog record). Story titles and words as Universal’s release sheet gives them; the films themselves may still be under copyright, so we link to the record rather than show them.
Before kickoff
Our ratings going in
Our ratings (scores only)
UCLA 51% to win. Michigan State won as Elo’s underdog.
The series
Every Michigan State–UCLA gameUCLA leads 4–3 in seven meetings, counting the six since this game.
| 2025 | UCLA 38, Michigan State 13 | |
| 1974 | UCLA 56, Michigan State 14 | |
| 1973 | UCLA 34, Michigan State 21 | |
| 1965 | UCLA 14, Michigan State 12 | Rose Bowl |
| 1965 | Michigan State 13, UCLA 3 | |
| 1955 | Michigan State 17, UCLA 14 | Rose Bowl |
Around this game
Michigan State
- Next gameat IowaSept. 25, 1954
- SeasonMichigan State in 1953
- ProgramMichigan State history and records
UCLA
- Next gamevs. San Diego NavySept. 18, 1954
- SeasonUCLA in 1953
- ProgramUCLA history and records