Ohio State walked into its matchup with USC with two weeks to get things right, and the Buckeyes came out looking like they had spent that time getting nowhere. The defense was supposed to be the stabilizing force. Instead, it unraveled in a 30-18 loss that exposed just how far off the group was.
Matt Patricia was at the center of the frustration. The expectation was that he would help build a defense Ohio State could trust, especially with the extra time to prepare.
That never showed up on the field. USC, coming off a seven-point outing against Wisconsin, had little trouble moving the ball and piling up 20 first-half points against the Buckeyes.
The numbers made the performance look even worse. Ohio State had just held Wisconsin to -17 rushing yards, but USC ran for 117 yards and averaged 4.5 yards per carry.
The Trojans were able to do what they wanted on the ground, and the tackling from Ohio State was every bit as shaky as the source material made it sound. Even with the rain in play, the Buckeyes never looked ready to slow down an offense that had no business feeling this comfortable.
Ryan Day had spent the week talking like Ohio State could lean on its defense and running game. That plan fell apart fast.
The defense was the biggest problem, but it wasn’t the only one. Special teams hurt the Buckeyes again with several big returns allowed, and the offense took a major step back from what Julian Sayin had been giving them.
After this one, a title feels a long way off.
Luke Fahey’s first start didn’t provide the spark Ohio State needed at quarterback, either. He wasn’t disastrous, but he also didn’t threaten USC down the field. He missed Devin McCuin multiple times on what should have been a wide-open touchdown, and he didn’t really start pushing the ball until the Buckeyes were already down two touchdowns.
That said, the issues around him were real. His receivers dropped several passes, which is hardly the kind of help a true freshman needs in his first start. Even so, Fahey still didn’t show the downfield juice Ohio State wanted until the game was basically out of reach.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if Day turns to Tavien St. Clair next week against Oregon.
Ohio State is at the point where it needs someone who can stretch the field from the opening drive. Still, Fahey is not the main problem.
The bigger concern is everything else around him.
In Other News...
Ohio State Just Got Troubling News Before USC's Passing Test
Ohio States secondary took a hit this week as Jay Timmons was downgraded from questionable to doubtful ahead of the matchup with USC. The Buckeyes have leaned on Timmons for several critical plays this season, and his status now casts a shadow over a defense that is already bracing for a major passing challenge.
If Timmons cannot go, Ohio State is expected to turn to Jermaine Matthews Jr. and Cam Calhoun to help fill the void. Against a Trojans offense that should test the back end early and often, the Buckeyes may have to adjust on the fly without one of their more reliable defensive backs. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Suddenly Has A Tavien St. Clair Question Fans Feared
Tavien St. Clair was supposed to be part of Ohio States long-term answer at quarterback, but the picture has shifted in a hurry. With true freshman Luke Fahey stepping in for the injured Julian Sayin, St. Clair is now working as the backup, a development that has changed the conversation around the room and around his place in the program.
For a player once viewed as the future at the position, the move naturally raises bigger questions about what comes next. Ohio State still has time to sort through the quarterback depth chart, and there are several possible paths ahead, but nothing has been settled yet, leaving St. Clairs status one of the more intriguing storylines to watch. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Suddenly Has A Bigger Problem Than One Road Loss
The loss at USC was jarring enough on its own, but the bigger concern for Ohio State may be what it revealed about the Buckeyes offense away from home. With backup quarterback Luke Fahey making the start in Los Angeles, Ohio State managed only one touchdown while USCs defense spent much of the night in the backfield, piling up tackles for loss and sacks and making every drive feel like a grind.
USC also delivered the kind of explosive play that can flip a marquee game in a hurry, with Mark Bowmans 70-yard catch-and-run helping the Trojans pull away in a 30-18 win over the No. 2 Buckeyes. For Lincoln Riley, it was his first top-five victory with USC, and for Ohio State it leaves a far more uncomfortable question than the final score: whether this was just a bad road night or a sign of a deeper issue the Buckeyes have to solve fast. [Read more 🡒]