The No. 1-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes dominated the UCLA Bruins from the opening snap in a lopsided blowout. UCLA, starting QB Luke Duncan for the first time due to starter Nico Iamaleava’s injury, managed just one late touchdown, three-and-outs, and zero offensive rhythm.
The Bruin’s debut drive under Duncan was a disaster. It started with a backward snap, followed by a delay-of-game penalty and ended in a three-and-out. Ohio State responded with tempo: eight plays, 71 yards in 3:54, capped by freshman RB Bo Jackson’s touchdown plunge. Buckeye’s star WR Jeremiah Smith flashed early with a 17-yard gain and a one-handed grab and finished with four receptions at the half before sitting out the rest of the game. OSU added a field goal late in the first for a 10–0 lead.
In the second quarter, Duncan showed poise with a third-down completion for UCLA’s first down, but low throws led to yet another three-and-out. Buckeye’s QB Julian Sayin converted a 4th-and-5 in the red zone, then another, hitting backup WR Bryson Rodgers for an 11-yard TD to make it 17–0. OSU RB James Peoples hurdled UCLA’s DB Cole Martin for a 19-yard TD rush to make it 24–0. A shanked punt from UCLA sealed a miserable half at 27-0. Halftime stats told the story: OSU outgained UCLA 294–55; Bruins punted on all five drives.
OSU’s starters exited early after the half, yet the dominance continued. RB Isaiah West scored to make it 34–0. UCLA finally crossed midfield late (WR Rico Flores Jr. had a 51-yard catch-and-run), eclipsing 100 total yards with 2:00 left in the quarter. Duncan hit sophomore WR Kwazi Gilmer on a perfect pick-route for an 18-yard TD, UCLA’s first points, to make the score 34–7. However, 11 seconds later, OSU’s Lorenzo Styles Jr. returned the kickoff 100 yards for a TD, the Buckeyes’ first since 2001, to make the score 41-7.
In the fourth, Bruin’s K Mateen Bhaghani hit a 32-yard FG. However, Peoples added his second TD run late for the 48–10 final. UCLA turned it over on downs multiple times, including a 4th-and-2 failure and a head-scratching run on 2nd-and-25.
The Bruins face Washington next week in what will likely be their final game at the Rose Bowl.
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Featured Image Photographed by Aamani Maddukuri/BruinLife
