No. 11 Ohio State is running it back with freshman quarterback Luke Fahey under center for Week 10. Head coach Ryan Day dropped the news Tuesday, confirming Fahey will get his second start of the season when the Buckeyes face Oregon, and honestly, the stakes could not be higher for this team.
A Rough Debut For The Fresh Face
Fahey’s first start was a brutal 30-18 loss to USC, which is now ranked No. 18. This kid was thrust into the spotlight because Julian Sayin is likely out for the rest of the season with a right shoulder injury. Fahey finished that game 21-of-38 passing for 260 yards and even tossed a touchdown to wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. Sounds decent on paper, right? But here’s the kicker: a massive chunk of those yards, 126 to be exact, came in the fourth quarter when the Buckeyes were already down by multiple scores. Before those final two possessions, Fahey had just 134 passing yards. Look, it’s tough to make your first start on the road against a good opponent, and the entire team played its worst game of the season around him. You gotta cut the kid some slack there.
Mistakes, Penalties, And A Defense That Couldn’t Catch A Break
The USC game was a complete meltdown, and it wasn’t all on Fahey. The Buckeyes’ defense let a 69-yard touchdown happen on the opening drive, then gave up another 70-yard catch-and-run later. Plus, the team racked up a ridiculous 11 penalties, which was their first game with 10 or more penalties since October 7, 2023. Coach Day himself called the penalties and mistakes “ridiculous.” When your defense is getting torched and the team is self-sabotaging with flags, it’s a tough spot for any quarterback, let alone a freshman making his debut. It’s also worth noting Fahey was Ohio State’s No. 2 QB all season, with Tavien St. Clair as the No. 3. So, this isn’t exactly a surprise start given Sayin’s injury.
Big Ten Dreams Still On The Line
Despite that disaster against USC, No. 11 Ohio State is still 6-2 overall and a strong 4-1 in the Big Ten. Thanks to their win over Indiana, they’ve still got a very real shot at making the Big Ten title game. UCLA is sitting pretty at the top of the conference with an 8-0 overall record and a perfect 5-0 in Big Ten play. But Ohio State and Indiana are the only other two teams with just one conference loss. Meanwhile, their next opponent, Oregon, is one of seven teams heading into Week 10 with two conference losses. This isn’t just another game for Fahey, it’s a make-or-break moment for Ohio State’s season. All eyes are on him, and the Buckeyes need him to step up huge against Oregon if they want to keep their Big Ten championship hopes alive.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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