Ohio State’s loss to USC was ugly enough on its own. The Buckeyes dropped a 30-18 decision Saturday night, their second defeat of the season, and the result sent them tumbling to 11th in the polls.
Even with a backup quarterback starting, the expectation was that Ohio State’s talent would carry the night. It didn’t.
Then came the moment that had fans talking for all the wrong reasons.
After the game, Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork was involved in a very public incident with Lincoln Riley that was caught on video. The details remain unclear, but the optics were bad enough to set off a wave of reaction online. Riley was seen cursing at Bjork as he left the field, and plenty of Buckeye fans immediately wanted answers - and consequences.
Ross Bjork made Ohio State looks like sore losers... and disrespectful punks.
- Martín🃏♠️♦️♣️❤️✌🏽 (@MRTN99323) November 1, 2026
Looked like @OSU_AD Ross Bjork was the instigator… pic.twitter.com/maI2faqj7z
- BofKGB (@BofKgb) November 1, 2026
This angle alone shows Bjork should be suspended indefinitely https://t.co/6C1eCnR0sQ
- BuckeyeNation (@buckeyefbnation) November 1, 2026
The video left fans convinced Bjork was the one who set the exchange off, though that has not been established. Maurice Clarett ended up playing peacemaker in the middle of it. From the outside, it was the kind of scene that never helps an athletic director’s image, especially when the school’s football team has just turned in its worst performance of the year.
That part matters, too. Ohio State had a real chance to avoid all of this by simply beating USC.
Instead, the Buckeyes were outplayed, and the defense and special teams were a mess. The loss turned a bad night into a full-blown headache.
Bjork’s time in Columbus has already come with mixed reviews. He was brought in to help Ohio State move into what was supposed to be a golden age of NIL, and he has helped the football program gain more money for the roster, though that only really happened in the last year. Before that, he reportedly refused to help Ryan Day spend more money on recruits.
He has also made changes that haven’t gone over well with the fan base. Bjork transformed Ohio Stadium and ended a beloved gameday tradition.
He also moved the band to the North section of the stadium to make room for luxury boxes in the South stands. On top of that, some fans remain uneasy about his decision to hire Jake Diebler, especially with Dusty May available.
So this latest incident only adds fuel to the fire. For fans already skeptical of Bjork, it was another reason to push back.
For others who were willing to give him credit for some of his work, it was still a bad look. Bjork was run out of both Ole Miss and Texas A&M, and this episode won’t do anything to quiet the criticism.
There’s still a lot that isn’t known about what happened between Bjork and Riley, and more could come out later this week. Riley may have more to say, and Bjork could eventually be asked about it. For now, though, it’s another ugly layer on a night Ohio State would rather erase.
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Ohio State Just Got A New Recruiting Concern After USC Upset
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Davis came away energized by the experience, and his day included meeting USC legend Marcus Allen, a reminder of the kind of history and star power the Trojans can still sell to recruits. Lincoln Riley also tried to quiet the noise around his own future, issuing a handwritten statement to reaffirm his commitment to USC as speculation about his job security swirled. For Ohio State, the loss was painful enough on its own, but the ripple effects may linger well beyond the final whistle. [Read more 🡒]