Ohio State dropped their road game against USC on Saturday, and it was true freshman Luke Fahey under center making his first-ever start for the Buckeyes. It had been over a decade since the program last started a true freshman at quarterback, going all the way back to Braxton Miller. But if Saturday’s performance is any indication, Fahey’s debut gives Ohio State fans plenty of reason to worry about the season ahead.
The Box Score Doesn’t Tell the Full Story
You check the box score, right? Fahey finished 21-of-38 for 260 yards and one touchdown, plus he even tacked on 12 rushing yards. Zero interceptions. On paper, it looks decent enough for a true freshman hitting the road for his first start. But man, that stat line hides a lot of pain. We’re talking about a complete lack of urgency when the team desperately needed a quick score late in the game, and a truly glaring issue with overthrowing receivers all night long. USC tight end Mark Bowman even had a highlight-reel hurdle, which just added salt to the wound on a tough night.
In the second quarter, Fahey threw a pass to Devin McCuin that should have been a touchdown, but it was just way too far out in front. Later, he couldn’t connect with Smith on a deep ball that could have been huge. Then, in the first quarter, he had a near interception that luckily wasn’t caught in bounds. It wasn’t all on him though, like in the third quarter when an Ohio State fumble set up another USC touchdown; Fahey’s pass bounced off the receiver’s hands before the fumble, showing he sometimes wasn’t getting much help. Still, the overthrows were a consistent problem, keeping the offense from truly capitalizing when they had the chance.
No Urgency, Just Frustration
The Buckeyes’ offense had to settle for three field goals before finally finding the end zone for the first time late in the fourth quarter. That’s a brutal way to go when you’re trying to win on the road. The true gut punch came late, with 7:47 left in the game, when Ohio State forced a USC punt and got the ball back. This was their shot. But with Fahey under center, the offense failed to efficiently move the ball down the field. USC actually let 5:45 drain off the clock before they even scored again, practically gifting Ohio State time. While Fahey did hit Jeremiah Smith on a nice touchdown pass on that drive, it came with only 2:12 left. Then, on the two-point conversion attempt, he completely overthrew his man in the end zone. You saw the frustration, right? Jeremiah Smith, who finished with 10 catches for 83 yards, looked visibly upset on the sidelines as the clock wound down. Was Fahey awful? No. Was he good enough to meet expectations and lead Ohio State deep into the CFP? Not on Saturday.
This loss to USC, and Fahey’s up-and-down performance, is a huge wake-up call. Ohio State needs to figure out if this true freshman can find the consistency and urgency required to be a contender. Every game matters for the Buckeyes, and if they’re going to make a run at the College Football Playoffs, they can’t afford too many more nights like this.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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