Ohio State vs. UCLA 2025 Preview: Can Bruins Brew Another Ranked Upset?

The college football regular season is in its final third, and it’s been a roller coaster for UCLA up to this point.

The Bruins have seen it all this year. They had a drastic quarterback change in the spring after landing top transfer Nico Iamaleava. However, the pre-season hype didn’t last long. The Bruins saw an early coaching change as now-interim head coach Tim Skipper took the duties of former head coach DeShaun Foster. Shortly after, the 0-4 start quickly raised questions about whether 0-12 was a legitimate outcome for the Blue and Gold. Now, with wins in three of their last five matchups, some life has been inserted back into the Bruin Faithful.

Nonetheless, another chapter will be added to the season as UCLA looks to put the back-to-back losses behind it and focus on its most significant task on Saturday at Ohio Stadium.

UCLA Bruins vs. Ohio State Buckeyes: 2025 College Football Preview

At 3-6 (3-3 Big Ten), UCLA heads to uncharted territory to clash with the undefeated, 9-0 (6-0), No. 1 Buckeyes.

Columbus, Ohio, will be buzzing as it looks for its team to notch their fifth consecutive 30-point game and eighth double-digit win. Given just a 1.7 percent chance to win as -32.5-point underdogs, the visiting Bruins will have their third crack at a top-10 opponent (1-1 record).

UCLA vs Ohio State: Matchup History & Noteworthy Stats

Saturday’s Big Ten showdown will mark the first time the Blue and Gold and Ohio State have matched up since the 2001 meeting at the Rose Bowl. The two programs have since had two different trajectories.

The Buckeyes have been three-time National Champions and have only one sub-.500 season, while the Bruins have not sniffed a postseason appearance, surrendering 11 losing campaigns. Though the all-time record is 4-4-1, recent history gives the edge to Ohio State.

Furthermore, the Buckeyes hold a statistical advantage over UCLA in nearly every impactful stat. The Big Ten’s second worst-scoring team (Bruins) has only managed 20.4 points per game. They will need to find ways to get past the nation’s top defense (Ohio State), which is allowing just 7.2 PPG. Unlucky for the Blue and Gold, it’s not just the elite defense that has kept Ohio State lossless; it’s also the 36.3 points it averages.

The last time a non-ranked team knocked off the No. 1 team was last season when Vanderbilt defeated Alabama.

Keys to the Game

Bruins’ Impact Player

With how poor UCLA’s defense has performed all season, it’ll be on the offense’s shoulders to offer the Buckeyes some resistance. Leading that offense is Iamaleava, who’s carried the load all season. But to defeat a unit that capitalizes on mistakes, controlling the line of scrimmage is undeniable. The offensive line must be able to move bodies around and create holes for their backs to rush through.

The three-headed backfield with Jaivian Thomas, Jalen Berger and Anthony Woods hasn’t produced any individual 100-yard nights. It’s been a backfield by committee, but in a game against the best, one of the three must carve himself a role on Saturday.

Thomas has had flashes of his Cal-self, but has not stringed 60 full minutes of that. The third-year back is explosive and has earned the nickname ‘Jet’ for his “see you later” speed. If edges can be set and No. 21 can hit the outside, it’ll form a more settled offense.

As long as the deficit remains at a minimum, Thomas could be poised to provide impactful touches.

Buckeyes’ Impact Player

It doesn’t get any more elite than quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. Both are arguably No. 1 at their positions.

As a first-year full-time starter, Sayin has thrown for 2,491 yards, 24 touchdowns and four interceptions on a nation-leading 80.9 percent completion rate. In nine games, the California native has had six 300-yard performances and three four-touchdown outings. He’s not a game manager by any means. He’s an absolute game wrecker and has showcased it on Saturdays.

Aiding that success is fellow sophomore Smith, who’s on pace for his second straight 1000-yard and 10-plus touchdown season. On the year, the phenom wideout has produced 862 yards (sixth in the nation) and 10 touchdowns (second) on 65 receptions. He’s a do-it-all receiver who’s a walking highlight reel. Smith has the speed to get behind the defense and the size to make contested grabs. He can be due for a career day against a struggling secondary.

UCLA’s Path to Glory

Though slim, a chance at victory still lies for the Bruins. They must continue to play with the aggressive mindset they have had all season, and replicate their shocking performance against No. 7 Penn State.

This is the game that offensive coordinator Jerry Neuheisel should dive deep into his bag of tricks and open up the playbook. Keeping the No. 1-ranked team on their toes should plant the foundation for an upset.

However, to finish the job, UCLA can’t afford any empty possessions. Staying ahead of the sticks against an Ohio State team that scores at will is a no-brainer. If the run game doesn’t set up opportunities, it could be a long, cold evening in the Midwest.