Ohio State Dominates UCLA in Statement Win
What we witnessed on November 15 was a commanding performance by the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes, who cruised to a 48-10 victory over UCLA. With this win, Ohio State has effectively secured its spot in the College Football Playoff. It’s hard to imagine a scenario where they wouldn’t make it. The Buckeyes are set to finish the regular season with at most two losses, which would guarantee at least a 10-2 record—more than enough for an at-large berth. Given that all two-loss teams from the Big Ten and SEC made the 12-team bracket last year, Ohio State is essentially a lock at this point. Their top ranking in the selection committee’s first two rankings only adds a comfortable cushion, leaving the worst-case scenario extremely unlikely. The remaining games against Rutgers and Michigan are expected to be victories, and Ohio State has not lost back-to-back conference games since 2011. Even if a late-season slip occurred, the Buckeyes would still have a shot at defending their title. A 10-2 record might complicate their path, likely forcing them to play on the road in the first round, but at minimum, a chance to repeat as national champions is firmly in place.
The game also highlighted some health concerns. The Buckeyes were without wide receiver Carnell Tate for the second consecutive game, and star receiver Jeremiah Smith was not at full strength. Smith managed to play but saw limited snaps and finished with a season-low four catches for 40 yards. In their absence, other receivers stepped up. Brandon Inniss had a career-high six receptions, including clutch catches on third and fourth down, and Bryson Rodgers caught his first career touchdown. Still, the absence of Tate and Smith removed a dynamic element from Ohio State’s passing attack. Quarterback Julian Sayin averaged just 5.9 yards per pass attempt, the lowest in his ten starts this season, though the supporting cast proved capable enough to dominate most Big Ten opponents.
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Ohio State’s offensive line rotation at right guard also drew attention. Redshirt freshman Gabe Van Sickle filled in effectively for Tegra Tshabola, helping to create holes for a 32-yard run by Bo Jackson. Van Sickle contributed to 107 rushing yards on seven carries while on the first-team line, providing the Buckeyes with flexibility as they fine-tune their offensive line for the season’s final stretch.
Special teams made a statement as well. Kicker Jayden Fielding continued his perfect streak for the month, punter Joe McGuire hit 50-plus yard punts, and Lorenzo Styles Jr. electrified the crowd with a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown—the first by an Ohio State player in 15 years. These strides in special teams give the Buckeyes an extra edge as they approach the most critical part of their season.
Overall, Ohio State demonstrated depth, resilience, and firepower in their 48-10 win over UCLA, solidifying their playoff prospects and sending a clear message to the rest of college football: the Buckeyes are serious contenders to repeat as national champions.
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