When was the last time Ohio State football played UCLA? History, head-to-head record & more
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It has been over 20 years since Ohio State and UCLA matched up in football. More precisely, it will have been 1,260 weeks separating the latest two matchups between the programs when the Bruins come to the Shoe on Nov. 15.
A former PAC-12 school, UCLA joined the Big Ten ahead of the 2024 college football season. The additions of USC, Oregon and Washington that same year expanded the conference to 18 teams. UCLA and Ohio State have played each other only once this century in Pasadena, California, during the 2001 season.
The two schools face each other in drastically different situations. After beating Purdue 34-10, Ohio State retained its undefeated record and No. 1 ranking in the US LBM coaches poll and AP poll. UCLA started the season 0-4 and fired head coach DeShaun Foster after the skid, but the Bruins bounced back with a massive upset victory over Penn State that kicked off a five-game losing streak for the Nittany Lions.
Read below for information on Ohio State and UCLA football’s matchup history.
When was the last Ohio State-UCLA football game?
Ohio State last played UCLA on Sept. 22, 2001, when the No. 14 Bruins beat the No. 21 Buckeyes 13-6 in a slug fest.
Head coach Jim Tressel’s second game ever with Ohio State did not go exactly as planned. Quarterback Steve Bellisari completed just 5 of 23 passes for 45 yards and threw two interceptions. Ohio State’s only score of the game was a blocked punt that trickled into the end zone for a scoop and score in the first quarter.
The Buckeyes converted just one third down on 14 tries and recorded a mere 166 yards of total offense compared to UCLA’s 323. Ohio State did manage to contain star running back Foster (yes, the same Foster whom UCLA fired as head coach this season) to 66 yards on 29 carries; Ohio State also forced seven fumbles and recovered four of them.
It was a bad offensive showing during a less-than-memorable 7-5 season, but the Buckeyes were the BCS national champions a year later.
Despite winning six games to start that 2001 season, UCLA would lose four straight games and decided against participating in a bowl game.
The 2001 Ohio State-UCLA game was played just 11 days after the September 11 terrorist attacks. UCLA passed out 60,000 placards to fans attending the game at the Rose Bowl, with the American flag on one side and “United, We Stand” written on the other.
What is Ohio State’s head-to-head record against UCLA?
The two programs have played each other nine times, which they have split at 4-4-1. Ohio State has a 2-3 record on the road and a 2-1-1 record at home against the Bruins.
Ohio State’s last home victory against UCLA was in 1999, winning 42-20. Coincidentally, the matchup was the fourth night game in Ohio Stadium’s first 78 seasons (the 2025 matchup is also a night game) and featured a prominent performance from Bellisari, who came off the bench for Ohio State and threw two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Though the Rose Bowl has been UCLA’s home stadium, Ohio State and UCLA have played in the Rose Bowl game only once. The Bruins, ranked No. 11, upset the No.1 Buckeyes 23-10 on New Year’s Day in 1976 in front of a crowd of 105,464.
When is the Ohio State-UCLA game?
Ohio State and UCLA play at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State-UCLA football matchup history, head-to-head record & more
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