1953 UCLA Bruins football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1953 UCLA Bruins football Pacific Coast Conference 4 5 PCC 8–2 6–1 Red Sanders 5th Single-wing Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum PCC champion Rose Bowl L 20–28 vs. Michigan State The 1953 UCLA Bruins football team represented the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) during the 1953 college football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Red Sanders, the Bruins played their home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The team completed the regular season with an 8–1 record (6–1 in PCC, first) for the first of three consecutive conference titles. UCLA played in the Rose Bowl but was defeated 28–20 by eighth-ranked Michigan State and finished at 8–2. The Bruins finished fourth in the Coaches Poll and fifth in the AP Poll, both released prior to the bowl games.2014 UCLA Bruins Football Media Guide (p108), UCLA Athletics Department, August 2014 Schedule 1953 AP September 18, 1953 w 4 Oregon State Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 41–0 39,209 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-ucla-eleve/189189426/ The San Bernardino Daily Sun UCLA eleven tromps on OSC, 41 to 0 September 19, 1953 January 17, 2026 Newspapers.com September 25, 1953 w y 4 Kansas Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 19–7 42,829 Hyland D. Cameron leads Bruins to 19–7 victory https://www.proquest.com/docview/166525838 The Los Angeles Times September 26, 1953 166525838 October 3 w y 5 Oregon Hayward Field Eugene, OR 12–0 24,587 Hyland D. Bruins down Ducks, 12–0, to end jinx https://www.proquest.com/docview/166548349 Los Angeles Times October 4, 1953 166548349 October 9, 1953 w y 6 Wisconsin Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 13–0 69,161 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-wisconsin-beaten-by-uc/189189778/ Chicago Daily Tribune Wisconsin beaten by U.C.L.A., 13 to 0 October 10, 1953 January 17, 2026 Newspapers.com October 17 l y 4 Stanford Stanford Stadium Stanford, CA 20–21 45,000 Hyland D. Inspired Indians stun Bruins, 21–20 https://www.proquest.com/docview/166523019 The Los Angeles Times October 18, 1953 166523019 October 24 w 12 Washington State Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 44–7 27,608 https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-ucla-wins-easily/189189932/ Omaha World-Herald UCLA wins easily October 25, 1953 January 17, 2026 Newspapers.com October 31 w 10 California Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA rivalry 20–7 70,073 Geyer J. 70,073 'Smoggies' see Bruins take 3rd straight over Bears https://www.proquest.com/docview/166577996 Los Angeles Times November 1, 1953 166577996 November 14 w 7 Washington Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 22–6 13,302 https://www.newspapers.com/article/pasadena-star-news-huskies-tab-bruins-as/189190121/ Pasadena Star-News Huskies tab Bruins as Coast's best bet November 15, 1953 January 17, 2026 Newspapers.com November 21 w y 5 USC 9 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA rivalry 13–0 85,366 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-union-bruins-win-pcc-titl/189190384/ The Sacramento Union Bruins win PCC title as Indians tie November 22, 1953 January 17, 2026 Newspapers.com January 1, 1954, 1954 l y 5 Michigan State 3 Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA Rose Bowl NBC 20–28 100,500 Wells Sparks Rose Bowl Win: Punt Return Cinches Big Game, 28–20 Lansing State Journal George S. Alderton January 2, 1954 1, 12 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-wells-sparks-rose/167374525/ Newspapers.com 1953 UCLA Bruins Schedule and Results https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/ucla/1953-schedule.html College Football at Sports-Reference.com Sports Reference January 17, 2026 Schedule/Results (1953 UCLA) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/402823 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics January 17, 2026 Game summaries USC UCLA 0 7 0 6 USC 0 0 0 0 By winning this game, the Bruins were the PCC Champions and received the Rose Bowl bid. California assisted with a 21–21 tie with Stanford. Bob Heydenfeldt and Paul Cameron scored in the second and fourth quarter respectively. Michigan State (Rose Bowl) MSU 0 7 14 7 UCLA 7 7 0 6 1954 Rose Bowl This was the first meeting between the two schools. It was the first Rose Bowl appearance for the Spartans. They had previously only played in the 1938 Orange Bowl. It was the third bowl appearance for the Bruins. The weather was sunny. The Spartans wore their green home jerseys and the Bruins wore their white road jerseys. The Spartans fumbled twice in the first half, which allowed the Bruins the first two scores. Michigan State had only one completed pass and 56 yards in the first half. The Spartans scored a touchdown with 4:45 remaining in the first half. Victor Postula knocked down four Bruin passes. Coach Biggie Munn instituted a "split line offense" against the Bruins.Richmond, Jim - Postula family traveled long road to America https://archive.today/20120722013019/http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?Dato=20050905&Kategori=LIFESTYLE08&Lopenr=509050303&Ref=AR 2012-07-22 . Battle Creek Enquirer, September 5, 2005 The Spartans assembled two long drives in the third quarter to pull ahead 21–-14. The Bruins recovered another Spartan fumble and scored to make the score 21–20. But the extra point kick failed. Billy Wells of Michigan State returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown with 4:51 left in the game. First quarter scoring UCLA – Bill Stits 13-yard pass from Paul Cameron. John Hermann converts. Second quarter scoring UCLA – Cameron, two-yard run. Hermann converts. MSU – Ellis Duckett, six-yard blocked punt return. Evan Slonac converts. Third quarter scoring MSU – LeRoy Bolden, one-yard run. Slonac converts. MSU – Billy Wells, two-yard run. Slonac converts. Fourth quarter scoring UCLA – Rommie Loudd, 28-yard pass from Cameron passes 28 yards to Rommie Loudd. Kick failed. MSU – Wells, 62-yard punt return. Slonac converts Awards and honors First Team All Americans – Paul Cameron (H, Consensus selection)1975 UCLA Media Guide, UCLA Athletic News Bureau, 1975 All Coast/Conference first team – Chuck Doud (T), Jack Ellena (T), Paul Cameron (H) References UCLA Category:UCLA Bruins football seasons Category:Pac-12 Conference football champion seasons UCLA Bruins football UCLA Bruins football