Five reasons Ohio State will knock out the UCLA Bruins in Week 12

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The Ohio State Buckeyes return to action this week, back home under the lights for a primetime matchup with the UCLA Bruins. After last week’s 34–10 victory over Purdue, Ryan Day and the Buckeyes will look to build on that momentum, clean up a few areas, and stay focused with the Michigan game just two weeks away. Ohio State enters as a 32.5-point favorite, and the sportsbooks expect the Buckeyes to handle business against a UCLA team that has dropped two straight.

As always, we’re breaking down this matchup from every angle, looking at why the Buckeyes are in a strong position to take care of business and keep their unbeaten run alive. This one has everything you want in a night game at “The Shoe,” from compelling storylines to opportunities for a statement performance.

Here are five reasons we believe Ohio State will come out on top Saturday night in Columbus.

Nico returns to Columbus for another night game vs. Ohio State

Last season, in the first round of the College Football Playoff, the Tennessee Volunteers faced Ohio State in Columbus. Many Tennessee fans made the trip north, and before kickoff, the Vols players warmed up shirtless in 20-degree weather, trying to send a message that they weren’t intimidated by the cold. Ohio State entered the game as a seven-point favorite and quickly proved why, scoring three straight touchdowns to take a 21–10 lead at halftime.

Jeremiah Smith dominated the Volunteers’ secondary, finishing with six receptions for 103 yards and two touchdowns. Tennessee, meanwhile, struggled to find any rhythm on offense. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava managed just 104 passing yards and 47 rushing yards on 20 attempts, as the Buckeyes cruised to a 42–17 victory.

Now, almost 11 months later, Iamaleava returns to “The Shoe” as the starting quarterback for the UCLA Bruins. This time, the challenge is even greater. Ohio State’s defense is somehow even better than the unit he faced last year. Expect defensive coordinator Matt Patricia to dial up early pressure, forcing Iamaleava to make quick decisions that could lead to costly turnovers.

The UCLA defense vs. the Ohio State offense

The Bruins have struggled defensively this season, ranking 77th in total defense and allowing an alarming 376.7 yards per game. They have also given up 17 rushing touchdowns, a vulnerability that Ohio State could look to exploit in the red zone with their deep stable of running backs. Indiana exposed these weaknesses earlier in the season, running for over 260 yards and scoring four rushing touchdowns in a 56-6 blowout. Expect the Buckeyes to take a similar approach, especially with rain in the forecast, which could make the ground game even more critical.

Ohio State double trouble Heisman candidates

The Buckeyes feature two legitimate Heisman contenders, and both will aim to strengthen their cases this week against UCLA. Quarterback Julian Sayin is currently the favorite, with odds around +160, while wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is tied for fifth at +2500. Sayin’s credentials are hard to ignore, leading the nation with a completion rate near 81 percent, 24 passing touchdowns, and nearly 2,500 yards through the air—remarkable numbers for a first-year starter.

Jeremiah Smith is equally impressive, ranking in the top six nationally in catches, yards, and touchdowns. The sophomore standout has 65 receptions, 862 yards, and 11 total touchdowns, including 10 receiving scores, firmly establishing himself as one of the best wideouts in the country. Both underclassmen will look to continue their dominant play against UCLA on Saturday night, picking up right where they left off in last week’s win over Purdue.

Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese

It feels like I mention Arvell Reese every week, but it’s impossible not to. He continues to elevate his NFL draft stock with every performance and has essentially played himself into the conversation as a top-five to ten pick next April. This season, he has racked up 55 total tackles and 6.5 sacks. Opposing offensive coordinators have learned to try to run plays away from him, yet he still wreaks havoc in the backfield, consistently recording tackles for loss, generating pressure, and beating linemen off the snap.

Last week against Purdue was his quietest game of 2025, which makes this Saturday against UCLA the perfect opportunity for him to remind the country and NFL scouts why he is considered the top linebacker in the nation.

Ryan Day’s record vs. the Big Ten

Ryan Day has been dominant against Big Ten competition, with his only losses coming against Oregon and Michigan. He avenged the Oregon setback last year when the Buckeyes defeated the Ducks in the College Football Playoff, and he is aiming to beat Michigan in a few weeks to change the narrative that Michigan is his kryptonite. Beyond those two games, Day’s record against conference opponents has been exceptional. It seems unlikely that a 3-6 UCLA team would hand him a Big Ten loss, yet as always, Day does not overlook any opponent. Expect the same level of focus and preparation this week, even against a struggling UCLA squad.

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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Five reasons Ohio State football will cruise past the UCLA Bruins

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