Ohio State football will turn visiting Bruins into ruins | Scarlet & Gray Matter

4 short-attention spans

UCLA at night. … bundle up. … no Hollywood ending for L.A. Bruins. … Sayin-Smith keep it rolling.

Pregame buzz

Not long ago, a team from Los Angeles traveling to the Horseshoe would have created quite the anticipation, based on Rose Bowl history and the fact that the Buckeyes didn’t play UCLA or USC all that often. But with the Bruins and Trojans now in the Big Ten, some of the mystique has vanished. That said, there is something about that baby blue and gold that puts UCLA a notch above your basic Minnesotas and Purdues.

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One-liner

New Quentin Tarantino movie: “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood… UCLA was actually competitive.” Starring Gary Beban, Wendell Tyler and Dick Vermeil.

Make or breakers

The Buckeyes have not faced a running quarterback the likes of Nico Iamaleava since they faced Iamaleava last season in the CFP opener against Tennessee. Ohio State held Iamaleava in check that day – 47 yards on 20 carries – but he remains a threat after having transferred from a top-20 team to the unranked Bruins. Corral him a second time in the Horseshoe and OSU is looking at winning by three touchdowns or more. Fail to keep him in check and things could get interesting.

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Robo’s rankings

1. Ohio State (1) … The only undefeated FBS team without multiple “close calls” of seven points or less.

2. Indiana (2) … Hoosiers on Big Ten Championship game collision course with No. 1 Buckeyes.

3. Texas A&M (4) … Aggies’ one-point win against Notre Dame looks better by the week.

4. Alabama (3) … Any number of teams could fill this spot (as well as No. 5) but Bama is slightly better than the rest.

5. Georgia (5) … Hosts Texas in showdown of famous mascots: bulldog vs. former bull bovine.

Robo’s rantings

Consider this more clarification than complaint, but it is time again to set the record straight on how many national titles Ohio State has won. The school claims nine: 1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002, 2014, 2024. The Dispatch joins most other media outlets in counting seven: 1942, 1954, 1957, 1968, 2002, 2014, 2024. The sticking points are 1961 and 1970, when neither of the traditional polls (Associated Press and United Press International/coaches) voted the Buckeyes No. 1, while the more unofficial Football Writers Association of America (1961) and National Football Foundation (1970) ranked OSU at the top.

General agreement says the media has it right. Using entertainment award shows as an analogy, the recognized pinnacle for best picture/actor/director of the year is the Academy Awards, not the Golden Globes; the Grammys, not the American Music Awards; the Tonys, not the Drama Desk Awards; the Emmys over Critics Choice.

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In college football, the BCS and then CFP replaced the AP and USA Today Sports coaches polls as the official gold standard. Think of it this way, if ESPN opted to name Ohio State its own national champion, would Buckeyes fans consider it a legitimate national title? I think not.

Numbers for dummies

2001 – the only time Ohio State has played in Rose Bowl Stadium when it wasn’t the Rose Bowl game. The No. 21 Buckeyes traveled to Pasadena, California, in 2001, just 11 days after the 911 attacks, and fell to the No. 12 Bruins 13-6. The two teams have not faced each other since.

1954 – Ohio State and UCLA split the final No. 1 ranking, with the Buckeyes finishing atop the AP poll and the Bruins voted No. 1 by the UPI/coaches.

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10 – Buckeyes who have attended the Heisman Trophy award ceremony in New York City since 1982, when the practice of inviting candidates began. (Before 1982 only the winner received an invitation). The number could increase to 12 if both quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith finish high in the voting.

Across the field

UCLA was the laughingstock of the Big Ten, losing its first four games before the Bruins turned the joke on No. 7 Penn State in Pasadena by winning 42-37. Then came a run of two more wins before losses to Indiana and Nebraska. Offensive coordinator Jerry Neuheisel knows what he’s doing, but how much of a game UCLA gives OSU depends on which Bruins team shows up.

We SEC you (a weekly look at that other conference)

Pass the popcorn, because the boxing match taking place in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, between LSU and fired (or was he?) coach Brian Kelly continues to provide must-watch entertainment. Kelly is suing his former employer over the school’s claim he was not “formally terminated;” and LSU is now looking to fire him “for cause,” a move that potentially could allow it to avoid paying the full buyout of nearly $54 million. I’m no fan of Kelly’s, but this feels like some dirty pool from LSU. It would be even better theater if Kelly wins, then sues the university for damage to his reputation, if that even is possible.

The weird and wonderful

Sometimes a picture is worth 1,000 words, but not when Fox broadcaster Gus Johnson is involved. Then a few VERY LOUD words blots out the entire picture. Whether you love Johnson’s audio antics or think he has gone too far, there is no debating that his screamfest while describing Indiana’s winning touchdown against Penn State was one for the ages, as in ages 2-5. Johnson’s call of Omar Cooper Jr.’s incredible touchdown catch sounded like he was being tortured by aliens.

Day delivery

What the coach said: “You’ve got to set the tone early and let them know you’re there.” – referencing big hits by the defense that send a message.

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What we heard: Caleb Downs will be knocking on UCLA’s door.

Inside the biz

Night games like this week’s vs. UCLA are a special kind of hell for writers, or at least older writers. Sigh. It is one thing to stay up until almost midnight covering the game, but the fun doesn’t really begin until the postgame interviews end and you begin typing away until deep into the morning. How deep depends on how long you can put off falling asleep, eyes still open, sitting at the computer. Thank goodness for coffee.

Horseshoe haiku

Bruin is a bear

but Buckeyes Grizzly horror;

Ouch! Grisly ending

Sports columnist Rob Oller can be reached at roller@dispatch.com and on X.com at @rollerCD.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State will bare fangs against UCLA football in Big Ten matchup