The Oregon Ducks head into “The Horseshoe” with one of the biggest tests of their season waiting on both sides of the ball. The No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes have the kind of defense Dan Lanning clearly respects, and the Ducks’ offense is trying to find steadier footing under new play-caller Jay Johnson.
Lanning’s pregame comments centered on how difficult Ohio State is to prepare for, especially because of the way the Buckeyes shift and disguise things up front.
"One, I mean, they make it really difficult," Lanning said. "The job that they do up front, I think they create a lot of one-on-ones.
They create a lot of - a multitude of fronts that they use and guys that they move around in a lot of different positions. I would call them a game plan defense where what they do one week is different than what they do the next week.
You don't necessarily know where they're always going to line up."
Ohio State’s defense enters the matchup ranked No. 11 nationally in total defense after the Buckeyes’ 30-18 loss to USC, a game in which the Trojans scored 20 points in the first half. Even with that result, Lanning pointed to the Buckeyes’ front as a major challenge, and the numbers back up why. Ohio State is No. 12 nationally in opponent first downs, with 42 rushing first downs allowed and 71 passing first downs allowed, and it sits No. 15 in rushing defense.
That run defense could matter for Oregon’s backfield, especially with sophomore running backs Dierre Hill Jr. and Jordon Davison both a little banged up in the Ducks’ Halloween win over Northwestern.
There is one area where Oregon may see an opening: third down. Ohio State does not crack the top 50 in defensive third down conversion success, while Oregon’s defense is No. 20 in that category. That could be a useful clue for the Ducks as they try to keep drives alive, especially in a game where later downs have been one of their issues this season.
The Ducks also have film to study from Ohio State’s loss to USC, particularly in the passing game, though that could include the absence of cornerback Jay Timmons.
Still, the Buckeyes’ front is not the only concern. Oregon will also have to account for the possibility of Raiola using his legs on a keeper, or the risk of a turnover if the Ducks’ backs get loose with the ball. Lanning said after the Northwestern game and again in his Ohio State media availability that Raiola needs to improve his ball security.
That warning feels especially relevant against a defense that can punish mistakes. One of the key plays in Ohio State’s win over USC was a second-quarter fumble recovery by safety Earl Little Jr. off Trojan running back King Miller.
In Other News...
Jeremiah Smith Just Got A Huge Heisman Opening For Ohio State
Jeremiah Smith has spent this season looking every bit like the kind of receiver who can tilt the Heisman conversation, and the numbers back it up. He has 62 catches for 1,067 yards and 13 touchdowns, production that places him among the nations leaders in all three categories and has made him a central reason Ohio States offense has stayed so dangerous.
Now the path in front of Smith may be a little clearer after Miami receiver Malachi Toney suffered a high ankle sprain that required surgery and will keep him out for the rest of the regular season. For Ohio State, the development matters because Smith remains one of the Buckeyes most important weapons as they try to lock down a College Football Playoff spot, and any shift in the national award race only adds more attention to what he does next. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States Oregon Matchup Just Got Complicated By Key Injury Changes
The build-up to Ohio States matchup with Oregon has taken on a different look after injuries started reshaping both sides of the field. The Buckeyes and Ducks were already bracing for a high-stakes game, but the latest injury updates have added another layer of uncertainty, with both teams now having to adjust their plans around key personnel changes before kickoff.
For Oregon, the biggest immediate concern is the status of running back Jordon Davison, who is expected to be out week-to-week with a lower-extremity injury. There is at least some encouraging news on the other side of the ball, with wide receiver Jeremiah McClellan probable to return from a foot injury, but the larger question remains how both teams will handle the ripple effects if the quarterback situation shifts again by game day. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States Big Ten Path Now Comes Down To Tiebreaker Chaos
Ohio States Big Ten title path is still alive, but it has turned into the kind of standings puzzle that can make a November scoreboard-watcher reach for a calculator. The Buckeyes sit third in the conference, yet they remain in the mix for the championship game if they finish strong and get help from around the league, with the race tightening enough that a three-way tie could become part of the equation.
What makes it messy is how quickly the picture can shift from week to week. A tie involving Ohio State, Indiana and UCLA would send the league into a tiebreaker process built on common opponents and conference winning percentage, and the Buckeyes can still survive one more loss if the right results break their way elsewhere. Lose twice, though, and the margin for error shrinks to the point where Ohio State would need a lot of outside help just to stay in the conversation. [Read more 🡒]