Ryan Day didn’t try to soften what Ohio State walked into at the Horseshoe. The Buckeyes were stunned by No. 23 Oregon, and after watching the Ducks put together 38 straight points, the Ohio State coach made it clear the night left him searching for answers.
“We didn’t expect any of this to happen,” said Day.
Day said after the game that he planned to “evaluate everything” after a loss that marked the third setback for the program this regular season. Ohio State opened with some life, getting on the board first when running back Bo Jackson ripped off a 16-yard touchdown run on the Buckeyes’ opening drive. But that early spark didn’t last, and Day pointed to a second-quarter sequence that swung the game hard in Oregon’s favor.
He zeroed in on a fake punt that caught Ohio State off guard. On the trick play, senior Ducks edge rusher Teitum Tuioti took the snap and threw to fellow outside linebacker Matayo Uiagelelei, who returned the ball 30 yards to the Ohio State 39-yard line for a first down. Oregon scored soon after on a nine-yard touchdown run by Dierre Hill Jr., and the Ducks kept rolling from there.
“Well, I think really where the game - I think anyone could see where the game changed was [when] we lost those two possessions there in the second quarter, and you know they hit the fake punt on us, which is extremely disappointing on our end,” Day said postgame.
Under freshman quarterback Luke Fahey, Ohio State did move the ball at times, and Day said the first couple of drives showed some positive signs. Fahey finished with 36-50 passing for 360 yards and two touchdowns, better on paper than Oregon’s Dylan Raiola. Still, Day said the Buckeyes never found the kind of flow they needed, even with Fahey “trying his tail off.”
“And I talk all the time about you know if you have momentum, then you got to keep it,” Day said. “If you don’t, you got to go get it, and you go get it with you know making one play, and you know we weren’t able to do that, and so no, I mean I’m not going to sit here and say, point fingers at you know one group of guys that are coming up short because we’re all coming up short, and again it starts.”
Day also said Ohio State’s defense couldn’t slow Oregon late in the second quarter or in the third quarter. He said the Buckeyes need to “weather the storm,” something he acknowledged this team isn’t used to.
The coach also said there was “no rhythm” for Ohio State in back-to-back games against USC and Oregon. Looking at Fahey’s performance, Day said the freshman was in a difficult spot but still expected to play and win.
“It’s a tough spot to be in for a true freshman, but you know the expectation is to come in and play and win. So, but again, I still don’t I still think we put him in some tough spots again.
It’s just you know my feeling right now is that we got to do a better job of not putting him in those [situations]. Just two games in a row where he’s out there battling, and he missed throws.
He made some mistakes for sure, but that’s his second start ever against you know a really good team,” Day added.
Day closed by giving Oregon and Dan Lanning credit, and said leaning more on the run game could help take some pressure off Fahey after two difficult starts.
“And you know they, that team right there is as much talent as there is in the country,” Day said.
In Other News...
Dan Lannings Aggression Just Put Ohio State On Notice
Oregon spent the first quarter in a hole against Ohio State, but the Ducks did not spend long playing it safe. A successful fake punt helped flip the tone, and Dan Lannings group kept leaning into an aggressive approach on offense until it had clawed its way to a 17-14 halftime lead, a swing that said as much about confidence as it did about execution.
Afterward, Lanning framed the performance around identity, stressing that Oregon has to keep playing like itself if it wants to keep putting pressure on elite opponents. He also pointed to the need to cut down on turnovers, a reminder that the Ducks boldness only works if it is paired with cleaner football, and that balance will matter even more as the stakes keep rising. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon May Need One Freshman To Change Everything Against Ohio State
As Oregon turns its attention to Ohio State, the Ducks are looking for ways to crack a defense that has been especially sturdy against the run. That puts a spotlight on true freshman Brandon Smith, whose performance against Northwestern stood out not just for the production on the ground, but for the way he added another layer to the offense with his work in the passing game.
Smiths rise matters even more because Oregon is dealing with injuries at running back, which narrows the options against a Buckeyes front that does not give much away. If the Ducks are going to find an answer in a game like this, they may need the kind of burst and versatility Smith showed in his first real opportunity to make a difference. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Faces One Huge Test In Columbus With Playoff Stakes Rising
Oregon heads into Columbus for one of the seasons biggest measuring-stick games, and both sides are carrying injury questions into a matchup that already has plenty riding on it. The Ducks will be without starting running back Jordon Davison, but they do get wide receiver Jeremiah McClellan back after his injury absence, a small boost for an offense that will need every available piece against an Ohio State defense that is expected to have defensive back Jay Timmons and offensive tackle Ian Moore back in the lineup.
The Buckeyes still have a few names on the doubtful list, including some wide receivers and a linebacker, but oddsmakers still have Ohio State favored at home. For Oregon, the setting alone makes this a major test, and the injury picture only adds to the challenge of trying to leave Columbus with a statement win and keep playoff hopes on the strongest possible footing. [Read more 🡒]