The Ohio State Buckeyes cruised to a 48–10 win over the UCLA Bruins on Saturday in Columbus, improving to 10–0 on the season and 7-0 in conference play, staying firmly in control of the Big Ten race and the national No. 1 ranking.
Quarterback Julian Sayin delivered another steady performance, completing 23 of 31 passes for 184 yards and a touchdown. Backup Lincoln Kienholz entered late and impressed during a fourth-quarter scoring drive, completing all three of his pass attempts.
With top receiver Jeremiah Smith sidelined for most of the game as a precaution and fellow starter Carnell Tate unavailable, the Buckeyes leaned heavily on their rushing attack—and it delivered in a big way. The team compiled 222 yards on 33 carries for four touchdowns.
Bo Jackson led the ground game with 112 yards and a touchdown, while freshmen Isaiah West and James Peoples combined for three more scores. Peoples produced two highlight-reel moments, including a hurdle over a defender on a 19-yard touchdown run.
Despite the injuries at receiver, Ohio State spread the ball around. Bryson Rodgers caught Sayin’s lone touchdown pass, and players such as Mylan Graham, Max Klare, and Quincy Porter helped fill the production void.
Special teams added another spark when Lorenzo Styles Jr. returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, the first kick-return touchdown for the program since 2010.
Defensively, Ohio State dominated the line of scrimmage and kept UCLA uncomfortable throughout the night. The Bruins managed only 222 total yards and struggled to sustain drives. The Buckeyes consistently won on early downs, limited the run game, and forced repeated punts as the game slipped away from UCLA.
Jayden Fielding remained reliable, hitting both of his field-goal attempts and all six extra points.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
The rushing attack…it’s…alive…ALIVE!
FINALLY, this rushing attack has a game where it sparks this offense. 6.7 yards per carry, 4 touchdowns, and even a highlight-reel hurdle from James Peoples.
This facet of the offense has had countless opportunities to break out, but the pass game always stole the storyline. However, with one of the worst run defense units in the country opposing you and with no Jeremiah Smith for most of the game and Carnell Tate being held out, this was the perfect opportunity.
The rushing attack even broke out without power tailback CJ Donaldson. Bo Jackson continues to excel, and fellow freshman Isaiah West has made significant progress, ripping off the biggest run of the night.
What fans have actually been missing is the explosiveness out of the ground attack. This game did not inherently provide that aspect. Jackson had a 32-yarder, and West’s run was 38 yards. A step up absolutely, but still not the 40+ yarders you would love to have to make a run at another national championship.
This team will continue to run with a running back by committee system. Explosiveness is still much needed, but as long as the passing game keeps firing, this offense will remain in good shape. Speaking of the pass game…
Please, please, please get healthy and stay healthy.
How concerned should fans really be about the health of Smith and Tate? Most likely very little. Both are out for precautionary reasons, according to Coach Day, but we all know he won’t say much more. Smith limping off the field at halftime set off some alarm bells.
You saw the product when Sayin didn’t have his top targets. It wasn’t bad by any means, but it was not the best showing for this pass game. That film will show opposing teams what happens if Smith and Tate are unavailable or mitigated. (Yes, a lot easier said than done.)
Again, it wasn’t all bad. You saw some flashes from Mylan Graham and Bryson Rodgers, and Brandon Inniss stepped up in a big way. However, throughout the night, it was fairly obvious the chemistry was not as sharp with those three wideouts. Don’t forget about the tight end Max Klare, who will be a dangerous weapon if forgotten about.
Here’s the plea: please, we all beg, keep Smith and Tate healthy at all costs. Hold them out of the Rutgers game if absolutely necessary. As long as both are healthy for the showdown in Ann Arbor, all is right with the world.
Special teams were actually special.
Yes, special teams were fantastic for once. Normally, a part of the game where Ohio State doesn’t ever do anything flashy, it delivered some spectacular moments.
Okay, let’s all admit that that “blocked punt” was absolutely a punter mess-up. No Buckeye was even close to UCLA punter Will Karoll. It shanked off his foot and just so happened to traverse right into Caden Curry.
However, that kick return. Now THAT was special. Lorenzo Styles never got remotely close to being taken down. It was perfect!
For a final note, Jayden Fielding continues to be reliable, and Joe McGuire is great when he’s utilized.
GAME RECAP
1st Quarter
12:41 – UCLA Three-and-Out
Ohio State’s defense forces an early punt after a disjointed UCLA series.
8:47 – Ohio State Touchdown
1st & Goal – Bo Jackson plunges in from one yard out to finish an 8-play, 71-yard opening drive. (OSU 7–0)
0:04 – Field Goal After Sayin Hit
Jayden Fielding drills a 41-yard field goal after Sayin takes a hard hit on 3rd down. 11-play, 60-yard drive. (OSU 10–0)
2nd Quarter
4:41 – Touchdown to Bryson Rodgers
Sayin rolls out and hits Bryson Rodgers for his first TD of the season. 12-play, 82-yard drive in 6:51. (OSU 17–0)
2:00 – Isaiah West 38-Yard Burst
West rips off a long run to the UCLA 43 heading into timeout.
1:19 – James Peoples Hurdles Defender for TD
Peoples leaps over a Bruin defender on a spectacular 19-yard rushing score. 5-play, 81-yard drive. (OSU 24–0)
0:13 – “Blocked” Punt Gives OSU Another Chance
UCLA’s punter kicks the ball off Caden Curry; OSU takes over at the 14.
0:00 – Field Goal for Extra Cushion
Fielding converts from 31 yards after a Sayin misfire in the end zone. (OSU 27–0)
3rd Quarter
12:31 – OSU Forces Turnover on Downs
Caden Curry blows up UCLA’s 4th-and-1 attempt at midfield.
2:27 – Isaiah West TD
West bounces outside untouched for a 1-yard TD. 13-play, 69-yard drive. (OSU 34–0)
0:17 – UCLA Touchdown
the Bruins string together two big pass plays, finishing with an 18-yard TD. (OSU 34–7)
0:03 – Lorenzo Styles 100-Yard+ Kick Return TD
Styles houses the kickoff with 3 seconds left in the quarter. (OSU 41–7)
4th Quarter
8:49 – UCLA Field Goal
Bruins take advantage of the loose OSU defense and hit a 32-yard FG. (OSU 41–10)
1:54 – James Peoples TD (Second of Game)
Peoples scores from 8 yards out, capping an 11-play, 75-yard drive that chews nearly seven minutes. (OSU 48–10)
The Buckeyes will close out their home schedule against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Saturday. Pregame starts at 10:30 a.m. with kickoff at noon. Listen live on 98.3 WPKO HERE.
