Ohio State heads into Saturday afternoon with plenty to prove after the Buckeyes stumbled at USC, dropping their first Big Ten game and second loss overall. The path forward is still there, but it gets no easier with Oregon coming into the ‘Shoe.
Around the Buckeyes Wire desk, the staff split on how this one plays out. Two writers see Ohio State bouncing back just enough to survive a tight one, while another thinks the Buckeyes are still searching for something that isn’t there yet.
Phil Harrison expects Ohio State to win with a performance that isn’t always clean, but still gets the job done. He sees the offense continuing to work through its identity with freshman Luke Fahey at quarterback, while leaning on explosive throws to Jeremiah Smith and a running game that is solid rather than dominant. Oregon will land some punches, but Harrison believes the Buckeyes do enough across the board to stay on course for a Big Ten title and College Football Playoff run.
Score Prediction: Ohio State 27, Oregon 23
Mark Russell is on the same side, and he’s banking on a sharper overall showing after last week’s letdown. He pointed out that true freshman quarterback Luke Fahey played well enough to win at USC, even if the rest of the team - coaches included - didn’t help him much. With Oregon bringing plenty of talent, Russell still expects Ohio State to understand what’s at stake and respond accordingly.
Score Prediction: Ohio State 27, Oregon 24
Alec Lasley took the other side of the board, and his read was more cautious. He noted the urgency Ryan Day emphasized all week ahead of the Oregon game, but he also questioned whether this group has enough consistency right now to put together the kind of complete performance it needs. Lasley said Ohio State will likely need complementary football to win, with offense, defense, and special teams all contributing, and he isn’t convinced the Buckeyes are ready to overcome the small mistakes that have piled up.
He also pointed to the injury to Julian Sayin and last week’s performance as factors that seemed to drain momentum from Ryan Day and company.
Score Prediction: Oregon 24, Ohio State 20
Prediction summary
Phil Harrison | Ohio State 27, Oregon 23
Mark Russell | Ohio State 27, Oregon 24
Alec Lasley | Oregon 24, Ohio State 20
In Other News...
Jeremiah Smiths Frustration Just Raised A Bigger Ohio State Concern
Jeremiah Smiths frustration during Ohio States loss to Oregon was hard to miss, and it came in a game that already carried major weight for the Buckeyes playoff hopes. Even in defeat, Smith was one of the few bright spots, finishing with seven catches for 133 yards and a touchdown, but the bigger takeaway was how visibly the moment seemed to wear on one of the teams most important playmakers.
For Ohio State, the concern goes beyond one heated sideline reaction. Smiths production showed why he matters so much to the offense, but an analysts speculation that he might not play again this season only adds another layer of uncertainty around a team trying to steady itself after the 41-28 loss. For now, it leaves the Buckeyes with more questions than answers about how they move forward. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States Big Ten Path Just Got A Lot More Complicated
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For the Buckeyes, the margin for error has shrunk to the point where every conference result matters, even games they are not playing in. Day also said quarterback Julian Sayin is still recovering from elbow surgery and will not be back soon, leaving Ohio State to keep sorting through its own health questions while the bigger picture in the Big Ten keeps shifting around it. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States Defensive Grades Expose Who Actually Showed Up Vs Oregon
Ohio States defense had a long afternoon against Oregon, and the film and grading only sharpened the picture from the 41-28 loss. Still, there were a few Buckeyes who at least held up their end, and Eddrick Houston stood out among them with five tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and two pressures while earning a Pro Football Focus grade of 75.4.
The rest of the defensive grades paint a more uneven story, with snap counts and performance varying widely across the unit as Ohio State tried to keep pace. For a defense that needed steadier play in a marquee matchup, the numbers make clear which players were active and which ones were left searching for answers. [Read more 🡒]