Ohio State Season Hits Troubled Waters After Loss to Oregon

Buckeyes stumble against Oregon

Oregon handed Ohio State a 41-28 loss at the Horseshoe on Saturday. The defeat gave the Buckeyes back to back double digit losses for the first time in 22 years.

Ohio State now sits at 6-3 overall and 4-2 in the Big Ten. This marks the first time head coach Ryan Day has suffered three losses in a season, and the program's first three loss year since 2011.

The Buckeyes built a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, but Oregon responded with 38 straight points. A successful fake punt by Oregon in the second quarter flipped the momentum. Oregon outgained Ohio State 295 to 39 across the second and third quarters. The 38 unanswered points were the most consecutive points allowed by Ohio State at home since Wisconsin scored 42 straight in 1999.

Offensive struggles compound defense issues

Ohio State started true freshman quarterback Luke Fahey for the second straight game. Starter Julian Sayin remains out indefinitely with an injury to his throwing arm.

Fahey finished with 360 passing yards, but more than half of those yards came in the fourth quarter after the game was out of reach. An interception thrown by Fahey with 1:06 left in the second quarter set up Oregon on the Ohio State 41 yard line. Tight end Jamari Johnson ended the half with a 2 yard touchdown run as time expired.

The offense failed to target star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith during the second quarter and for much of the third quarter. When Fahey threw to Smith on fourth and 2 with 3:45 remaining in the third quarter, Oregon defensive tackle D'Antre Robinson batted the pass down. The Buckeyes turned the ball over on downs four straight possessions in the second half. Oregon took a 38-14 lead early in the fourth quarter on a 15 yard touchdown pass from Dylan Raiola to Brandon Smith.

Ryan Day addresses the collapse

After debuting at No. 12 in last week's initial playoff rankings, Ohio State now faces long odds to reach the Big Ten championship game or earn an at large playoff berth.

Ryan Day expressed deep disappointment after the game. He acknowledged that having three losses was not a place the team thought it would be.

"I just told the team in the locker room that now we've got to weather this storm," Day said. "And it'll be a storm here, something that none of us are used to at Ohio State."

Day defended Fahey, saying the young quarterback is trying his tail off in a tough spot. However, Day added that the expectation is still to win. Day noted that there must be accountability across the staff and players after the offense failed to find any rhythm.

What it means for the next game

Northwestern Wildcats at Ohio State Buckeyes (College Football, Sat, 14 Nov): Ohio State Buckeyes win 77%, Northwestern Wildcats win 23%; projected score Ohio State Buckeyes 30, Northwestern Wildcats 18. Our safest pick: Ohio State to win.