Ohio State’s place in the sport took a hit in Columbus, and it wasn’t subtle.
Oregon walked in and handed the Buckeyes a 41-28 loss, then piled on with 38 straight unanswered points to turn the game into a statement. For a program that had finished every season since 2012 ranked in the top 12 of the AP Top 25, the result landed like a jolt. The Buckeyes’ long run of national relevance in the Big Ten is over.
This also goes down as Ohio State’s second-worst home loss in the Ryan Day era. It marked the first time since 2011 that the Buckeyes have dropped back-to-back regular-season games, and it leaves them 6-5 over their last 11. That kind of stretch simply doesn’t fit the standard in Columbus.
The obvious caveat is quarterback play. Ohio State has not looked like itself without starting quarterback Julian Sayin, and the offense has disappeared over the last three weeks without him. But the bigger question is why a roster this loaded hasn’t been able to absorb the blow.
The Buckeyes are working with one of the most expensive rosters in college football. They usually get first crack at quarterbacks in recruiting and haven’t landed one out of high school since CJ Stroud. Even with transfer-portal turnover, the talent level should still be there.
Instead, the run game has been a problem for two years, and this season’s offense has become almost entirely dependent on Sayin and Jeremiah Smith. Without them, it has looked thin in a hurry.
The defense, usually the safety net, hasn’t been able to carry the whole operation either. Ohio State returned only three starters on that side of the ball, and the unit has been asked to cover for an offense that hasn’t given it much help.
That’s what makes the bigger picture so uneasy. It’s not just about one bad night against Oregon. It raises the question of what Ohio State looks like after the Jeremiah Smith era, and whether a Sayin return in 2027 would be enough to solve everything that’s gone wrong.
In Other News...
Michigan Fans Have Every Right To Question This QB Decision
Michigans quarterback situation took a sharp turn at halftime against Penn State, when Bryce Underwood was benched and freshman Tommy Carr took over for most of the game. Carrs outing was uneven, including interceptions, but the move still mattered because it signaled a real shift in how the offense was being managed in a game Michigan could not afford to treat casually.
Kyle Whittingham said the offensive coaches recommended sticking with Carr after weighing what they had seen in practice, even though putting Underwood back in was discussed. Whittingham made clear the final call was his, which only adds to the scrutiny around a decision that leaves Michigan fans wondering whether the staff is riding with the hotter hand or simply hoping the choice settles itself the next time the Wolverines take the field. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans Offensive Shakeup Just Put The Real Problem In Focus
Michigans offensive struggles finally forced a change, with Jason Beck dismissed after a poor showing that came on the heels of the loss to Michigan State. The move arrived even after Kyle Whittingham had initially said there were no plans to make a switch, a sign that the pressure around the unit had grown too hard to ignore.
Beck had been brought in on a three-year contract and was the highest-paid offensive coordinator in college football, which only adds to the scrutiny around how quickly things unraveled. For a program that expected the offense to settle in and carry more of the load, the decision puts the bigger issue back in focus: whether this was about one coordinator, or a deeper problem that still needs fixing. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans Offensive Collapse Just Forced A Decision Fans Saw Coming
A rough stretch on offense has finally led to a change for Michigan, which parted ways with offensive coordinator and quarterback coach Jason Beck after a season of disappointing production. The move comes on the heels of a loss to Michigan State, a result that only sharpened the frustration around an attack that never found much rhythm when the Wolverines needed it most.
Head coach Kyle Whittingham made clear he was unhappy with the offenses output, and now the focus shifts to what comes next on that side of the ball. Michigan has not announced a replacement for Beck yet, though several assistants with offensive experience are in the mix as the staff tries to steady a unit that has become impossible to ignore for all the wrong reasons. [Read more 🡒]