Here is a look at both teams resumes entering this game.
Ohio State Buckeyes
Overall Record 2024/25: 15-12 Big Ten Record: 7-9
Rankings currently with metric-based sites: Net: #34 KenPom: #33 Barttorvik: #39 BPI: #35
Key wins this season: Texas (80-72) in the Hall of Fame Series—Las Vegas, Rutgers (80-66), Kentucky (85-65) in the CBS Sports Classic, @ Minnesota (89-88), @ Purdue (73-70), Iowa (82-65), @ Penn State (83-64), Maryland (73-70), and Washington (93-69). Quad One and Two losses this season: @ Texas A&M (64-78), Pittsburgh (90-91), @ Maryland (59-83), Auburn (53-91), Michigan State (62-69), Oregon (71-73), @ Wisconsin (68-70), Indiana (76-77), @ Illinois (79-87), @ Nebraska (71-79), Michigan (83-86), Northwestern (49-70).
UCLA Bruins
Overall Record 2024/25: 19-8 Big Ten Record: 10-6
Rankings currently with metric-based sites: NET: #27, KenPom: #28, Barttorvik: #26, BPI: #27
Key wins this season: Washington (69-58), Arizona (57-54) in the Hall of Fame Rivalry, @ Oregon (73-71), Gonzaga (65-62) in the West Coast Hoops Showdown, Iowa (94-70), Wisconsin (85-83), @ Washington (65-60), Oregon (78-52), Michigan State (63-61), Penn State (78-54), and @ Indiana (72-68).
Quad one and two losses this season: New Mexico (64-72) on a neutral court, North Carolina (74-74) in the CBS Sports Classic, @ Nebraska (58-66), Michigan (75-94), @ Maryland (61-79), @ Rutgers (68-75), @ Illinois (78-83), and Minnesota (61-64).
The history between UCLA and Ohio State and the game prediction.
The previous matchups between these two teams: UCLA has played Ohio State four times, and Ohio State has won three out of the four games they have played against each other.
The last time these two teams played one another: The Buckeyes defeated the Bruins by a final score of 60-70 last season.
The reason why these teams have played each other in recent years: Since 2014, UCLA and Ohio State, as well as North Carolina and Kentucky, have participated in the CBS Sports Classic, which has a similar format to the Champions Classic that began in 2011.
BuckeyesBruinsPrediction: UCLA fans were extremely disappointed by the home loss to Minnesota in their last game that the Bruins played. However, UCLA has still played well as of late, winning eight of their last ten games. Ohio State has not played well of late in comparison with them losing four of their last six games. The Bruins should be extra motivated for this game after being upset by the Golden Gophers and should win this game without much of a challenge. Final score: UCLA 80, Ohio State 68.