Ohio State’s slide in the latest college football power rankings is a blunt reflection of where things stand after last week’s loss to USC.
The Buckeyes are headed into a home matchup with Oregon trying to steady themselves after a rough road trip that dropped them to 6-2. Against the Trojans, Ohio State never found much rhythm on either side of the ball, and the result was a messy outing that sent the program tumbling from No. 2 to No. 13 in Joel Reuter’s new Bleacher Report rankings.
A big part of the issue was the absence of star quarterback Julian Sayin, who has been out after suffering an injury weeks ago. Without him, the Buckeyes’ offense looked different from the start, and that showed up in the final result.
Protection was another problem. Ohio State’s offensive line didn’t do enough to keep Fahey clean, though the true freshman still played well enough to give the Buckeyes a chance. They just couldn’t finish the job.
The penalties didn’t help either. Ohio State was flagged 11 times against USC, a number that leaves little room for success and even less for error as the season tightens up.
Getting the offense back in gear is now the priority. USC managed to keep Jeremiah Smith in check, at least by his standards, as he finished with 10 catches for 83 yards and one touchdown. Even so, Ohio State will need to keep leaning on him down the stretch, and the Buckeyes need him and Fahey to keep building chemistry.
With Oregon, Northwestern, Nebraska, and Michigan still on the schedule, Ohio State still has a path to the College Football Playoff, even if the road is getting steeper.
In Other News...
Ohio State Still Has Two Big Lineup Questions Before Oregon
Ohio State left the USC game with two key injury questions hanging over its week of preparation, and both sit in the trenches where the Buckeyes can least afford uncertainty. Defensive tackle Eddrick Houston and left tackle Ian Moore were hurt in the win, and Ryan Days update offered some relief on one front while leaving the other very much open as the No. 1 concern shifts toward Oregon.
Houston is expected back soon enough to give Ohio State some stability inside, but Moores availability is still tied to how his recovery goes in the days ahead. With Oregon next on the schedule, the Buckeyes are balancing health, lineup planning and the usual late-week coaching decisions, all while trying to keep the focus on a game that could demand its best five up front from the opening snap. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Day Defends A Call Ohio State Fans Still Cant Trust
Ryan Days late-game decisions have become a talking point around Ohio State after a pair of losses put his fourth-quarter judgment under the microscope. The first came against Texas, when Day later said he regretted not letting the Longhorns score in order to preserve more time for a possible comeback. The second arrived against USC, when Ohio State went for two late and came up empty, adding another layer to a season already shaped by what-ifs.
Day has defended the USC choice as one rooted in analytics and internal discussion, but it is the kind of call Buckeyes fans are unlikely to trust until it works in a big moment. The hesitation is understandable, too, given Ohio States recent history on two-point tries, with the program having missed its last eight attempts dating back to 2017. [Read more 🡒]
Jeremiah Smith Already Has Oregon Sounding Concerned About The Rematch
Oregons 32-31 win over Ohio State in 2024 is still fresh enough to shape the conversation around the rematch, and it has plenty to do with Jeremiah Smith. The Buckeyes receiver made enough of an impression in the first meeting that Ducks coach Dan Lanning has already been talking about him, a reminder that Ohio States passing game is once again going to be one of the biggest storylines when these teams line up again.
Ohio State is treating the game like more than just another date on the schedule, too, with the program designating it as its Scarlet the Shoe event as it looks to keep its home winning streak rolling. For a matchup that already carries the weight of last years one-point finish, Smiths presence only adds another layer to what should be one of the most closely watched games on the Buckeyes calendar. [Read more 🡒]