'Holy Cow!': Internet explodes over viral photo of a UCLA cheerleader as the Bruins eye a push toward the playoffs

UCLA’s winning streak is attracting attention well beyond the football field, and a photo of one Bruins cheerleader is adding to the buzz.

Kelsey Lowder , a veteran member of the UCLA cheerleading squad, drew a wave of online interest after sharing a photo of her in uniform on Instagram.

The reaction comes as the ninth-ranked Bruins continue to build an impressive season and strengthen their credentials as a potential College Football Playoff contender.

UCLA gave its fans another reason to celebrate on Saturday, beating Michigan State 28-10 at the Rose Bowl. The victory lifted the Bruins to 7-0 overall and 5-0 in Big Ten play, marking their first 7-0 start since 2005.

With the team still unbeaten, excitement around the program is growing, and the viral photo has become another talking point among fans following the Bruins.

“Perfect woman oh my god,” wrote one fan.

“Holy cow,” added another.

The program’s rise has made every game and post more likely to travel far beyond Pasadena. Still, the timing has put Lowder in the spotlight as UCLA’s football team enjoys one of its strongest starts in years.

Bruins take control after a rocky start

The game itself began with an unexpected setback for UCLA. Michigan State capitalized on a fumble to take a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, while further mistakes threatened to derail the Bruins’ rhythm.

UCLA struggled with turnovers, dropped passes and penalties in the opening half, giving the Spartans opportunities to stay competitive.

Head coach Bob Chesney acknowledged that the performance wasn’t clean, but praised his players for responding. UCLA gradually took control, with Jaivian Thomas scoring a seven-yard rushing touchdown to tie the game. Wayne Knight then powered in from one yard out, giving the Bruins a 14-7 halftime advantage.

The momentum carried into the third quarter. Quarterback Ty Dieffenbach connected with Brian Rowe Jr. on a 63-yard touchdown pass, delivering a major play just after the break. Anthony Woods added a four-yard rushing score, extending UCLA’s lead to 28-7.

The Bruins’ defense was just as important. UCLA held Michigan State to only 156 total yards, recorded four sacks and forced three turnovers. Dieffenbach finished with 198 passing yards and a touchdown, while the offense piled up 443 yards overall.

The win keeps UCLA firmly in the national conversation, although Chesney will want to clean up the early errors as the schedule continues. A perfect record offers opportunity, but tougher tests could expose the same mistakes if they persist.

The Bruins can enjoy an unbeaten start and the attention that comes with it. UCLA hosts Nevada on October 31, hoping to extend its run and keep its playoff ambitions on track.