Buckeyes keep things rolling in win over UCLA

Billy Bruce
Nov 18
3 min read

You can’t spell claustrophobia without UCLA.

For most of Saturday’s game, the Buckeyes defense kept the Bruins offense crammed into small spaces, allowing only two first downs in the first half and a paltry 65 total yards until late in the third quarter.

Ohio State scored the first 34 points enroute to a 48-10 pasting, securing their #1 ranking with two regular season games remaining.

Jeremiah Smith played only three possessions but made one of his signature one-handed grabs to set the Buckeyes up for their first touchdown.

He was limping prior to the game, visiting the medical tent prior to the opening kickoff.

His exit from the game after four catches for 40 yards, along with the absence of Carnell Tate for the second consecutive week, appears to have been precautionary. It wouldn’t be a surprise if both are limited or out next weekend against Rutgers, a nearly five touchdown underdog, for OSU’s final home game of the season.

Against Connor Stalions’ team, Indiana, or in playoff matchups, the passing game certainly wouldn’t be the same without them.

Julian Sayin, without his two mega weapons, completed 23 of 31 passes for 184 yards and a touchdown.

The showing likely didn’t help his Heisman chances, but that’s beyond his control. What he has controlled so far is the best completion ratio in the nation.

Bo Jackson (114 yards, TD) logged his fourth 100-yard rushing performance of the season. Isaiah West tacked on a career-high 62 yards and James Peoples scored his first two career rushing touchdowns, one of which involved hurdling over a defender before hitting paydirt.

The trio accounted for 218 yards on the ground and four touchdowns, a welcome sight for spoiled Buckeyes fans accustomed to dominant running backs.

Brandon Inniss caught six passes for 30 yards, one of which was a catch-and-somersault, and picked up several first downs to keep drives alive.

Inniss has been doing his best Evan Spencer imitation all season. A team captain, Inniss doesn’t have amazing stats but is willing to do anything to help his team win.

His heart was on display after the game, too, as he signed autographs for young fans and posed for pictures with others while an obviously impatient assistant coach attempted to escort him to the locker room. “Just three more,” he finally said. The coach had no choice but to surrender and wait.

Brendan Rodgers caught his first career touchdown pass and Lorenzo Styles returned a kickoff 100 yards in the third quarter for another score, the first OSU kickoff return for a touchdown in fifteen years.

The Buckeyes victory, its tenth of the season, would have been the 1000th in program history if not for Tattoo Gate in 2010, which cost them 12 wins.

Ohio State is 90-10 in its last 100 games. Ryan Day (80-10 career record at OSU) earned his sixth 10-win season as the head coach, just one behind Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer.

Quick test: Can you name the Buckeyes’ punter? He’s only been on the field 17 times this season— once on Saturday. Joe McGuire’s friends probably think he’s lying when he tells them he’s a Buckeye. The offense simply refuses to let him work.

We’re almost to the most anticipated weekend on the calendar, folks.

O – H!

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Billy Bruce covers Ohio State Buckeyes’ football for Tristatesportspage.com