Eleven months after its win over Tennessee in the College Football Playoff, Ohio State welcomes Nico Iamaleava back to the Shoe for another night game against the Buckeyes.
UCLA
Bruins
This time, Iamaleava leads UCLA into Ohio Stadium against a Buckeye team that has won a nation-leading 13 straight games dating back to that win over Tennessee last December. Ohio State has been dominant in just about all of those games, and it will look for another dominant performance on Saturday as it faces a team that’s just 3-6 this year.
While the Bruins aren’t expected to challenge the Buckeyes for a win, Ohio State enters the game with some questions it still needs to answer as it’s down to just two more tune-up games before The Game and the postseason. Saturday’s game will also serve as a primetime showcase for Ohio State’s stars to shine under the lights, and we’re expecting those Buckeyes to deliver some fireworks.
We break down our biggest questions, highlight our top players to watch and make some predictions for what will happen in Ohio State vs. UCLA below.
Questions
Will Ohio State’s run game hit its stride?
We’ve had this question in this section a lot lately, but it’s becoming more urgent now that Ohio State’s trip to Ann Arbor is just two weeks away. The Buckeyes’ run game made some strides against Purdue – if Bo Jackson’s 70-yard touchdown hadn’t been wiped out by an illegal block in the back against Jeremiah Smith, they would have had their best rushing average of Big Ten play – but they still finished with less than four yards per carry for the third time in four weeks.
As elite as Ohio State’s defense and passing offense have been, an unreliable running game could cost the Buckeyes against Michigan and/or in the postseason. If the Buckeyes don’t run the ball well against UCLA, whose rushing defense ranks 128th in the FBS with 5.03 yards allowed per carry, there will be real cause for concern.
– Dan Hope
How will Ohio State attack UCLA's defense?
Dan just mentioned that UCLA struggles to defend the run. What does that mean for Ohio State’s offense? Will the Buckeyes lean on a ground game that still needs work, or will they keep flexing as one of the nation’s best passing attacks with Julian Sayin, Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate and more? I think the answer is a little bit of both. Ryan Day always strives for balance, but I could see another game where Ohio State runs the ball more than it throws it.
– Chase Brown
Do the Silver Bullets smother another mobile quarterback?
Washington's Demond Williams Jr., Ohio's Parker Navarro, whenever Ohio State has faced an explosive rushing threat at quarterback, it's eliminated the threat of his legs. Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles are two of the nation's best spies, and the confusion over whether either of them is spying, playing coverage or blitzing is a major headache for QBs. The Buckeyes' defensive line has also been excellent with its rush-lane discipline.
UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava has 600 sack-adjusted rushing yards at an incredible clip of 8.1 yards per carry. If the Buckeyes cage another dual-threat, there isn't much else threatening about the Bruins' offense.
– Andy Anders
Players to Watch
Caden Curry
It's been a while since Curry has filled the box score. Since his award-winning performance against Washington, where he had 11 tackles, five tackles for loss and three sacks, Curry has recorded 13 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and three sacks in Ohio State's wins over Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Penn State and Purdue. Those numbers are good, but this weekend, it's time for Curry's numbers to be great.
– Chase Brown
Sonny Styles
A strong showing against Iamaleava and Tennessee started an excellent College Football Playoff run for Styles last season that propelled him to becoming a top leader for Ohio State’s defense this season. He’s been quietly excellent this season despite being overshadowed by fellow Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese; another game against Iamaleava seems like a great opportunity for Styles to remind the nation he’s one of college football’s best linebackers, too, and he’ll play a key role in the Buckeyes’ efforts to limit Iamaleava as a runner.
– Dan Hope
Bo Jackson
Dan mentioned how anemic the UCLA run defense is above, and I think the freshman Jackson is best positioned to take advantage of that. Emerging as the leading running back of Ohio State's quartet, he's up to 613 yards in just 95 carries (6.5 yards per carry) with two touchdowns. I expect him to break a big run at some point in this game.
– Andy Anders
Predictions
Jeremiah Smith scores multiple touchdowns
It’s not entirely clear whether Carnell Tate will be back this week after he was held out of last week’s game; even if he does play, he could be on a pitch count. If Tate is limited in any way, Ohio State’s passing attack will revolve around Smith as it did last week. Likely to see plenty of targets once again, I expect Smith to capitalize with another big game – against a UCLA defense that’s tied for the second-most passing touchdowns allowed in the Big Ten this season (18) – that increases his chances of being a Heisman Trophy finalist.
– Dan Hope
Jeremiah Smith scores three touchdowns
I like that prediction, Dan. Mind if I jump on board? I’ll say Smith scores exactly three touchdowns. Why? Because that’s what Marvin Harrison Jr. did the last time Ohio State hosted a November night game at the Horseshoe — a 38–3 win over Michigan State. In that one, Harrison had seven catches for 149 yards and two scores through the air, plus another on the ground. So, just because it would be super cool, I’ll predict Smith matches the feat.
– Chase Brown
Defense records five sacks
Five sacks is always an incredible number to reach and would be the second-most in a game this year for the Buckeyes. But with Iamaleava's tendency to look for rushing opportunities and UCLA allowing the 31st-most sacks per game in the country this year, I expect visions of Caden Curry, Arvell Reese and company to haunt the nightmares of Iamaleava after this one.
– Andy Anders
