UCLA (3-6 overall, 3-3 Big Ten) at No. 1 Ohio State (9-0, 6-0)
When: 4:30 p.m. PT Saturday
Where: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
TV/radio: NBC (Ch. 4)/790 AM
Line: Ohio State by 31.5
NOTABLE INJURIES
UCLA: OUT: DL Nico Davillier (personal reasons), DL Robert James III (undisclosed, season-ending), DL Tyler Partlow (undisclosed, season-ending), WR Jonah Smith (undisclosed, season-ending), QB Pierce Clarkson (indefinitely suspended) WR Karson Gordon (undisclosed), OL Jaylen Jeffers (undisclosed, season-ending), OL K.D. Arnold (undisclosed, season-ending); QUESTIONABLE: WR Jadyn Marshall (undisclosed), LB Ben Perry (undisclosed), DB Croix Stewart (undisclosed), WR Jalen Saint Paul (undisclosed), OL Michael Sultemeier (undisclosed), DL Devin Apuiu (undisclosed).
Ohio State: QUESTIONABLE: DE Logan George (undisclosed), S Malik Hartford (undisclosed), WR De’zie Jones (undisclosed), QB Mason Maggs (undisclosed), OL Josh Padilla (undisclosed), RB Anthony Rogers (undisclosed), DL Max Roy (undisclosed), DL Ahmed Tounkara (undisclosed), OL Phillip Daniels (undisclosed), WR Quincy Porter (undisclosed).
What’s at stake? An undefeated season for Ohio State is the true test of what Saturday’s game means for the grand scheme of the 2025-2026 college football season. But as far as upsets go, if UCLA somehow, some way defeated Ohio State, it would go up in lore in the same vein as the Penn State victory earlier in the season. UCLA would have to truly turn its season on its head to scrape together three wins in three games – with the first on the docket being the Buckeyes – to turn bowl eligible, so pride is what’s truly at stake for the Bruins. Turn in a good performance against the top college football program this season, and maybe fans will have something to smile about instead of revisiting the dread of a 50-point defeat from a few weeks ago.
Who’s better? What makes the best team in the country the best? Imagine having the best scoring defense in the country and then also turning the ball over to the other side of the field and having the best passing efficiency in the country. That’s Ohio State so far in 2025. UCLA interim coach Tim Skipper complimented the way the Buckeyes play football, an all-in-together approach from offense to defense to special teams. Even with a younger quarterback behind center in sophomore Julian Sayin, the Buckeyes are rolling with bunches of talent spread out around the team. Head coach Ryan Day runs an operation – the best, if not the most efficient, in college football in recent history – and should be a blueprint for the UCLA athletic department to look at for seasons to come.
UCLA wins if: Let’s be honest. Whereas one could squint and imagine a UCLA victory over No. 2 Indiana, after the past few weeks and the losses that have followed with it, the Bruins are 100% likely to lose in Columbus. Skipper has built a ton of heart into the program that was missing early in the season, but not even Skipper can whip up the Bruins into impressive enough shape to take down the top-ranked team in the country.
Prediction: Ohio State 48, UCLA 10. The Bruins will be a wee bit more focused than the trouncing in Indiana a few weeks ago, but the talent level of the Buckeyes is far superior to even slightly sway victory in UCLA’s direction. Expect Ohio State’s offense to have a big day.