Ohio State is looking to improve to 10-0 in Saturday’s game against UCLA, the first time these two teams will match up since 2001. The Bruins have had an up-and-down season and bring quarterback Nico Iamaleava — the signal caller for last season’s Tennessee team that lost 42-17 in Columbus in the CFP — back to the Shoe.
Here’s how the BSB staff sees this game going.
Sam Cipriani: OSU Ousts UCLA In Iamaleava’s Return To The ‘Shoe
Just 329 days after Ohio State shut down then-Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava in the Volunteers’ 42-10 loss at Ohio Stadium in the opening round of last year’s College Football Playoff, the junior signal-caller returns to the ‘Shoe — this time leading a 3-6 UCLA squad that has struggled to find its footing.
The Bruins have had an interesting season to say the least. They started out 0-3 and fired head coach DeShaun Foster before winning its first three out of its first four Big Ten games under interim head coach Tim Skipper.
In 2025, Iamaleava has been strong running the ball, his passing has been shaky. In nine games this season, Iamaleava has been solid, passing for 1,659 yards at a 63.7 completion percentage, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions, while tacking on 474 rush yards and four scores on just 96 attempts.
Iamaleava has certainly improved, but so has Ohio State’s defense. UCLA’s 114th ranked scoring offense that averages only 20.4 points per game must overcome the Buckeyes’ No. 1 overall defense that allows just 7.2 points and 211.6 yards per game.
Given the significant disparity in talent and coaching — combined with a rowdy night game atmosphere in Ohio Stadium — UCLA might land a few punches, but it’s Ohio State that’s who will deliver the knockout blow on Saturday.
Ohio State 45, UCLA 13
Bobby Gorbett: Buckeyes Blast Bruins
Although Ohio State has already played five Big Ten games, it hasn’t yet been truly tested by a conference foe. I don’t see that changing on Saturday night when the Buckeyes take on the Bruins.
In their first game against the Bruins since 2001, I predict Ohio State will cruise to its 10th straight win of the season.
On defense, the Buckeyes will face a familiar quarterback. UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava was Tennessee’s signal-caller last season. Iamaleava struggled against the Buckeyes last year, and I think he’ll struggle this year against an even better defense.
UCLA showed it has the offensive weapons needed to move the ball and score points against a talented defense when it defeated Penn State 42-37 earlier this season, but I’d be stunned if the Bruins have that much success against the Silver Bullets.
UCLA has shown flashes of defensive improvement under interim head coach Tim Skipper, but that unit will still be outmatched on Saturday.
I see the Buckeyes’ running game having one of their best games of the season and redshirt freshman quarterback Julian Sayin continuing his run at the Heisman Trophy.
Ohio State 41, UCLA 6
Greg Wilson: Buckeyes Hold Iamaleava In Check
We’ve seen this years’ UCLA team reach the heights of taking down Penn State and be largely responsible for the firing of Lions’ head coach James Franklin, but we have also seen lows from the Bruins that go down to falling to New Mexico before Foster was fired.
This Bruins team goes as quarterback Nico Iamaleavea goes, and you don’t have to be Mr. Xs and Os to see that. The Buckeyes and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia are well aware that the quarterback will have to try to play hero ball in the Shoe if the Bruins want any chance of upsetting the No. 1 team in the country.
While Iamaleava has a lot of talent, OSU has done very well stopping running quarterbacks this season, with minus-28 rushing yards from Washington’s Demond Williams Jr. being the biggest example of that.
Arvell Reese will likely be back as the spy of the Buckeye defense when passing downs call for it, and the defensive line should do well caging the quarterback again.
Ohio State 42, UCLA 6
