Ohio State just dropped a stunning 30-18 loss to USC, a performance so rough it ranks among the worst of the Ryan Day era. That defeat slung the Buckeyes down to 6-2, marking the first time Ohio State has recorded two losses before November since way back in 2011. This stinger is only the second unranked loss of Day’s career, with the other being 2024 Michigan. Of course, the injury to starting quarterback Julian Sayin looms large over everything else, but what else has gone so wrong to knock them off course?
Playoff Bubble: Can They Still Make It?
Look, even after picking up that second loss, Ohio State is probably still in the College Football Playoff mix. They do have some impressive wins on the resume, like taking down No. 14 Iowa and No. 5 Indiana, which helps. Plus, there are still some quality, winnable matchups left on the schedule against Oregon and No. 20 Northwestern. But after that USC stunner, the Buckeyes are squarely on the bubble. Forget about margin for error: a single regular-season loss from here on out would keep them out of the field, and with the struggles they are showing on both sides of the ball, more losses could absolutely be on the table. CBS Sports actually projects Ohio State as the 7-seed in the College Football Playoff, with an 11-2 record and a loss in the Big Ten title game against an undefeated UCLA. So, it’s not over, but man, it’s gonna be a tightrope walk.
QB Chaos: Sayin Out, Fahey Struggling
The biggest gut punch might be Julian Sayin’s injury, which looks like it’s a likely season-ending one. After he went down in the second half of the Indiana win, Ohio State made the call to roll with true freshman Luke Fahey over national top-five recruit Tavien St. Clair. Fahey supposedly impressed in practice enough to win the job, but his limitations have been stark out on the field. He’s been super inconsistent on downfield passes, failing to clear even 150 passing yards until deep into the fourth quarter against USC. St. Clair, on the other hand, has a more impressive physical profile. But after transitioning from a smaller school, there are real questions about his familiarity with the complexity of this offense. Coach Ryan Day would be smart to open up that competition, like, right now, and see what he can truly get from both guys.
Defense Suddenly Reeling?
The defense has been a rock for Ohio State over the past three seasons, a true mainstay. But the unit looked flat-out disappointing against USC. Just one week after those same Trojans were held to seven points, their worst offensive performance of Lincoln Riley’s career, Ohio State’s defense allowed 30 points and showed multiple breakdowns in the passing game. USC wide receiver Trent Mosley literally ripped off a 69-yard touchdown on just the second play of the game, setting the tone. Then tight end Mark Bowman had a rumbling 70-yard catch-and-run to get deep into scoring territory. This isn’t the impenetrable defense we’re used to seeing.
With several quality opponents still left on the schedule in the final month of the season, Ryan Day and his Buckeyes have zero margin for error remaining if they want to salvage any national championship hopes. They need to figure out that QB situation and get the defense back to being a brick wall. It’s go time.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply