Bruins Brave the Horseshoe: UCLA Faces Buckeyes in Highly Anticipated Big Ten Clash

On November 12, 2025, the UCLA Bruins will make the trip to Ohio State's Horseshoe, setting the stage for a highly anticipated Big Ten clash. The Bruins, now part of the conference, bring a new threat in the form of transfer quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who previously played for a top-20 team. Ohio State faced Iamaleava last season in the College Football Playoff opener against Tennessee, holding him to 47 yards on 20 carries. However, the Buckeyes will need to corral the dynamic quarterback once again to secure a comfortable victory.

The late-night kickoff also presents a unique challenge for the writers covering the game. As an older writer notes, staying up until midnight to cover the action and then typing well into the morning is a "special kind of hell." The writer laments the difficulty of the task, but acknowledges the necessity of coffee to power through.

Amidst the on-field drama, a long-standing debate continues over Ohio State's official national title count. The school claims nine championships, but most media outlets, including The Dispatch, recognize seven. The sticking points are the 1961 and 1970 titles, which were awarded by less prominent organizations rather than the traditional AP and UPI/coaches polls. The writer argues that the BCS and CFP have become the new "gold standard" for determining national champions, a view that many Buckeyes fans may not share.