Why Ohio State’s Clash with UCLA Could Reveal a Rare Vulnerability in an Otherwise Championship-Caliber Buckeye Team
When Ohio State travels west to face UCLA in 2025, it will be one of the marquee matchups of the season — a coast-to-coast showdown between two of college football’s biggest brands, now both members of the expanded Big Ten. While Ohio State enters the game as a heavy favorite on paper, boasting superior talent, depth, and national championship momentum, the contest may expose one potential flaw in the Buckeyes’ seemingly impenetrable armor. And for all their dominance on both sides of the ball, that vulnerability could come in the most critical area: defending a dynamic, mobile quarterback in a spread-style offense.
UCLA, under head coach DeShaun Foster, has quietly built a roster tailored to exploit exactly the kind of defensive aggression Ohio State thrives on. The Bruins may not have the national profile or recruiting star power of the Buckeyes, but they have something that could cause problems: speed, space, and a quarterback capable of extending plays both with his legs and his mind.
Dante Moore, the former five-star recruit who transferred back to UCLA after a stint at Oregon, is expected to lead the Bruins’ offense in 2025. He has matured into the kind of dual-threat quarterback that has historically given Ohio State’s defenses trouble — even under current coordinator Jim Knowles. Moore is composed, confident, and capable of making plays when the structure breaks down. He doesn’t just scramble for the sake of scrambling — he buys time and punishes secondaries with his arm.
And therein lies the problem for the Buckeyes: when facing quarterbacks who can create outside the pocket, even the most disciplined defenses can break down. For all the praise rightly given to Ohio State’s 2024 defensive unit — which ranked top five in nearly every major category — it had rare lapses against teams that stretched the field horizontally and used tempo to tire out the front seven. Moore and UCLA do just that, and they do it with purpose.
The Buckeyes’ defensive line, led by All-American edge rushers JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer, is built to pressure quarterbacks and disrupt timing. But against a quarterback like Moore, who can neutralize that pressure with a quick release or designed rollouts, the equation changes. Mobile quarterbacks don’t need to win every down. They just need to win enough third downs, create enough broken plays, and generate momentum. That’s what Moore does best.
The UCLA offense also incorporates a lot of pre-snap motion, misdirection, and RPOs (run-pass options) — all of which test linebackers and safeties in real time. Ohio State’s linebacking duo of C.J. Hicks and Sonny Styles is athletic and experienced, but even the best can struggle when forced to hesitate for a split second. If UCLA can manipulate Ohio State’s eye discipline, particularly in the middle of the field, it can create mismatches and sustain drives.
Styles, while one of the most versatile defenders in the country, will have a tough task handling both tight end coverage responsibilities and keeping an eye on Moore when he escapes the pocket. Hicks, the rangy linebacker with tremendous upside, will be asked to cover ground sideline to sideline. This game may come down to whether those two can contain Moore without overcommitting and giving up explosive plays.
The biggest unknown, however, may be in the secondary. Ohio State’s starting corners — Denzel Burke and Davison Igbinosun — are elite press-man defenders. But against a team like UCLA that thrives on motion and bunch formations to create space, man coverage becomes harder to sustain. If Moore gets into a rhythm, and Ohio State’s secondary is forced into zone coverage more than usual, there’s potential for UCLA to find soft spots — particularly over the middle where RPOs and seam routes thrive.
Offensively, the Buckeyes should have the upper hand. Even against an improving UCLA defense, Ohio State’s offensive weapons are unmatched. Whether it’s Will Howard, Devin Brown, or Julian Sayin starting at quarterback, they’ll have a stable of talent to work with — including wideouts Emeka Egbuka, Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss, and phenom freshman Jeremiah Smith. The Buckeyes’ offensive line, rebuilt after a few departures, will need to hold up against UCLA’s defensive front that’s anchored by pass rushers Laiatu Latu and Oluwafemi Oladejo.
The question is less about whether Ohio State can score — they can — and more about whether they can control the tempo and limit UCLA’s possessions. If this game turns into a shootout, with both offenses trading punches and Moore allowed to run wild, the Buckeyes’ defense may face its toughest regular-season test. And in a playoff-centric world, every data point matters. A sloppy defensive performance, even in a win, could have implications for seeding or confidence down the stretch.
Ryan Day knows this. The coaching staff has likely already earmarked the UCLA game as one requiring a specialized defensive plan. Knowles may opt to spy Moore with Hicks or a safety, dial back some of the exotic blitzes, and focus on containment over chaos. But doing so limits Ohio State’s usual aggressive identity. That’s the dilemma: be who you are and risk getting burned, or change your scheme and risk losing your edge.
Special teams may also play a role in how the game unfolds. In tight contests, field position becomes even more critical. UCLA’s return game, led by senior slot receiver Josiah Norwood, has the capability to flip the field in an instant. Ohio State must stay disciplined in coverage and avoid giving the Bruins any hidden yardage advantages.
Ultimately, the biggest “chink in the armor” for Ohio State isn’t about talent or coaching — it’s about stylistic matchup. This team is built to dominate pro-style offenses and win in the trenches. But against teams that spread them out, go tempo, and force defenders into space — like UCLA will — Ohio State can be forced out of its comfort zone. That doesn’t mean the Buckeyes aren’t the better team. They are. But better teams have lost before due to one mismatch that spiraled into a major momentum shift.
There’s also the emotional and logistical challenge of traveling to the West Coast. The last time Ohio State played in California was against USC years ago. With a three-hour time zone difference, unfamiliar surroundings, and a fanbase eager to prove itself against the Big Ten’s best, this could turn into a trap game if the Buckeyes aren’t locked in. UCLA has nothing to lose and everything to gain, and teams with that mentality are dangerous.
Still, Ohio State is built for championship-level football. They’ve been tested, hardened by playoff battles, and led by a coaching staff that understands how to prepare for high-pressure road games. But no team is flawless. And if there is a game where a small crack could be widened into something more significant, it’s this one.
For Day, this matchup will be as much about adaptability as execution. Can Ohio State adjust mid-game if Moore gets hot? Can the defense bend without breaking? Can the offense control tempo and keep UCLA’s offense on the sideline? These are the questions that may define not just the outcome of this one game, but the trajectory of the entire season.
If Ohio State emerges from Los Angeles with a win — especially a convincing one — it will reinforce their standing as the Big Ten’s best and a national title favorite. But if UCLA exposes their vulnerability, even in a close loss, it could reveal a blueprint for how other teams might attack them later in the year.
In the end, it’s not about panic — it’s about preparation. And in college football, where matchups often matter more than rankings, a game like this has the potential to define a season. The Buckeyes may be armored in tradition, talent, and titles — but every great force has a weak point. Against UCLA, we may find out if Ohio State’s is still defending quarterbacks who refuse to play by the rules.
