What’s Holding Ohio State Back? Short-Yardage Struggles and Red Zone Woes Loom Large Ahead of CFP
For the second straight year, Ohio State is heading into the College Football Playoff with a loss in its rearview mirror. But unlike last year’s emotional gut-punch against Michigan in Columbus - a loss that nearly sent the program into full-blown crisis mode - this year’s 13-10 stumble against Indiana feels different.
Not easier to swallow, necessarily, but certainly less catastrophic. The Buckeyes still secured a first-round bye, and the national title dream remains alive.
That’s the bottom line.
Still, the loss to Indiana didn’t come without warning signs. If anything, it exposed some cracks that Ohio State will need to patch - and fast - before they step onto the field in Dallas on New Year’s Eve.
Let’s take a closer look at the two biggest concerns heading into the playoff: short-yardage execution and red zone efficiency.
Short-Yardage Situations: A Lingering Problem That’s Hard to Ignore
If you’ve watched Ohio State closely this season, you know the short-yardage game has been a bit of a rollercoaster - and not the fun kind. Last year, the Buckeyes had a reliable formula when they needed a tough yard or two.
Will Howard, with his big frame and physicality, was a go-to option. Whether it was a quarterback sneak or a power run with TreVeyon Henderson or Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State could line up, let you know what was coming, and still move the chains.
This year? Not so much.
Julian Sayin brings a lot to the table - poise, accuracy, and a strong command of the offense - but power running isn’t in his toolbox. That became painfully clear in the Michigan game, when a slip near the goal line cost Ohio State a touchdown. And again against Indiana, when Sayin appeared to convert a critical fourth down deep in Hoosier territory, only for replay to show his knee hit the turf just shy of the marker.
But let’s be clear: this isn’t all on Sayin. The truth is, short-yardage struggles have been a recurring issue under Ryan Day, with last year’s success standing out as the exception, not the rule.
The Buckeyes’ shotgun-heavy offense doesn’t lend itself to smashmouth football. And when they do shift under center, it often telegraphs the play, making it easier for defenses to key in.
Last season, Ohio State had the physicality to overcome that predictability. This season, they haven’t shown the same edge.
Earlier in the year, these issues were masked by blowout wins. When you’re up three scores, failing to convert on third-and-1 doesn’t sting quite as much.
But now, with elite competition looming, every inch matters. And there’s no magic fix here - no schematic band-aid that can fully cover up a lack of push at the line of scrimmage.
The Buckeyes simply need to be tougher in the trenches.
One wrinkle that could help? Using defensive lineman Kayden McDonald as a lead blocker near the goal line.
We saw a glimpse of that against Michigan, and while you don’t want to risk injury to a key defensive player, it might be worth exploring during bowl prep. Because right now, Nate Roberts isn’t getting the job done at fullback, and Ohio State needs a way to create space in short-yardage spots - especially if taking Sayin off the field isn’t an option.
Red Zone Offense: Missed Chances Could Be Costly in the Playoff
If short-yardage woes are a red flag, red zone inefficiency is a full-blown siren. And it’s not a new issue - this has been a thorn in Ryan Day’s side for years.
Last season was the rare exception, thanks to a ground game that could punch it in when it mattered. But this season, the Buckeyes have struggled to finish drives, and that’s a major concern heading into the College Football Playoff.
The Big Ten Championship was a prime example. Ohio State didn’t score a single point in the second half - not because they couldn’t move the ball, but because they couldn’t finish. Two long, methodical drives - one in the third quarter, one in the fourth - ate up nearly 15 minutes of game time and produced zero points.
Let’s break them down.
The first drive started at OSU’s 25-yard line with just over eight minutes left in the third quarter. Nearly seven minutes later, the Buckeyes had marched 70 yards down the field.
But on a fourth-down attempt, Sayin’s knee hit the turf just short of the line to gain. Drive over.
The second came in the fourth quarter. Starting at their own 10, the Buckeyes again churned out a long, promising drive - 81 yards in total.
But on 3rd-and-1, with no wide receivers on the field, Sayin was forced to throw into tight coverage toward third-string tight end Bennett Christian. That call raised eyebrows, especially with top-tier wideouts like Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith watching from the sideline.
And to make matters worse, instead of going for it on fourth down, Ohio State settled for a 31-yard field goal attempt - which Jayden Fielding missed.
Two drives. Nearly 15 minutes of possession. Zero points.
That’s not how you win playoff games.
These red zone issues are a mix of questionable playcalling and poor execution. And they’re not going to magically disappear just because the stage gets bigger. Whether Ohio State draws Texas A&M or Miami in the Cotton Bowl, they’ll need to be sharper - and more aggressive - inside the 20.
Fielding’s struggles only amplify the urgency. At this point, it’s hard to trust him in high-pressure moments.
That puts even more pressure on the offense to finish drives with touchdowns, not field goal attempts. And it means the coaching staff has to put the ball in the hands of their best playmakers - namely, their elite wide receivers - when the game is on the line.
The Path Forward
There’s no doubt this Ohio State team has the talent to win it all. They’ve shown flashes of dominance throughout the season, and they’ve got a month to regroup before the playoff. But if they want to avoid another early exit, they’ll need to clean up the two areas that have haunted them the most: short-yardage execution and red zone efficiency.
Ryan Day pushed all the right buttons last postseason. Now, he’ll need to do it again - and maybe dig even deeper this time. Because this team has come too far, and played too well, to let it all slip away because of a few yards they couldn’t gain when it mattered most.