Man, there is just nothing like a Saturday in Columbus. Even in the dead of January, the energy around the Schottenstein Center is basically electric. If you're looking for Ohio State scores today, you’ve probably realized by now that it’s a packed slate for the Buckeyes. We aren't just talking about a single game here; it’s a full-on departmental takeover across basketball, hockey, and gymnastics.
Today, January 17, 2026, the big ticket was clearly the men's basketball showdown against UCLA. It’s one of those marquee matchups that sounds more like a Rose Bowl from the 90s than a mid-winter Big Ten clash. But that's the new reality of the conference, right?
The Big One: Men's Basketball vs. UCLA
The Buckeyes came into today at 11-5 overall and 3-3 in the Big Ten. Honestly, they needed this one. After that 81-74 loss at Washington last Sunday—where Bruce Thornton went off for 28 points but the team just couldn't get a stop in the second half—the vibes were a bit shaky.
Tip-off was set for 1:00 PM EST on CBS. Playing UCLA at home is a different beast now that they’re conference foes. The Bruins brought that West Coast pace, but the Schottenstein crowd was loud early. Bruce Thornton has been the engine for this team, recently crossing that 1,800-career point milestone. When he’s hitting that mid-range jumper, Ohio State is a different team.
The rotation has been a bit thin with Christoph Tilly’s injury history, so seeing Ivan Njegovan step up lately has been huge. You've got to wonder if the Buckeyes can keep up that rebounding advantage they showed in Seattle (where they out-boarded the Huskies 39-29) while actually closing out the perimeter.
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What’s Happening on the Ice and the Mats?
While everyone is staring at the hoops score, the No. 2 ranked Ohio State women's hockey team is out in Mankato, Minnesota, finishing up a series with Minnesota State. If you saw the score from Friday night, you know Joy Dunne is basically a cheat code at this point.
She put up four goals. Four.
That 7-4 win on Friday showed exactly why this team is a national title contender. They held the Mavericks to just 15 shots. Today’s rematch at 4:00 PM ET is all about the sweep. Keep an eye on the freshman Hilda Svensson too; she’s currently on a nine-game point streak.
Then there’s the gymnastics squad.
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The No. 16 Buckeyes are out in Piscataway to open Big Ten play against Rutgers at 4:00 PM. They’re coming off a 196.250 in the opener against Georgia. It was a close loss, but Payton Harris winning the bars title in her return was a massive silver lining. Today is about cleaning up the beam routines and seeing if Courtney Coleman can keep that momentum in the all-around.
Why These Scores Matter for the Postseason
It’s easy to get caught up in the "today" of it all, but January is where resumes are built. For the men's basketball team, beating a brand-name school like UCLA provides the kind of Quad 1 win that the selection committee drools over in March.
- The Thornton Factor: If Bruce Thornton continues to average nearly 20 a game in conference play, he’s a First-Team All-Big Ten lock.
- Freshman Growth: Amare Bynum’s 20-point breakout last week suggests he’s no longer just a "prospect"—he's a contributor.
- Hockey Dominance: The women’s hockey team is essentially locked into a high seed, but every win keeps them chasing that No. 1 spot.
Honestly, the variety of success in Columbus right now is sort of ridiculous. Whether it's the men's volleyball team coming off a sweep of George Mason or the wrestling team trying to bounce back from a tough road stretch, the "Block O" is everywhere today.
How to Track Live Updates
If you aren't sitting in front of a TV, the best way to keep up with the Ohio State scores today is through the official Ohio State Buckeyes app or by following the specific team Twitter (X) accounts. The Big Ten Plus (B1G+) streaming service is also carrying the gymnastics and hockey games if you’ve got a subscription.
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Don't just look at the final score, though. Look at the box scores. See if the bench is contributing. In the Washington game, the Buckeyes out-rebounded the Huskies by ten and still lost because of defensive rotations. That’s the kind of detail that tells you if this team is actually getting better or just spinning their wheels.
Actionable Steps for Buckeye Fans
If you're following the action today, here is how to stay ahead of the curve:
- Check the injury report for Christoph Tilly before the next basketball game; his presence in the paint changes their defensive ceiling entirely.
- Watch the Joy Dunne highlights from the Mankato series; she’s playing at a level that most defenders simply can't touch right now.
- Monitor the gymnastics scores on the Virtius platform for real-time judge tallies if you’re following the Rutgers meet.
- Secure tickets early for the upcoming home stand against Illinois on January 25th, as the Covelli Center is expected to sell out for that gymnastics/wrestling overlap.
The Buckeyes are in the thick of the winter grind. Today's results will go a long way in determining how deep these teams run when the snow finally starts to melt in March.