Ohio State just choked away a monstrous 20-point lead against Texas, falling 24-23 on Saturday after being up 23-3 in the third quarter. This isn’t just any loss; it’s right up there with the brutal 13-10 defeat to Michigan in 2024 as one of the absolute worst during the Ryan Day era. When you’re 1-3 in your last four games, you know the heat is on.
The Second Half Meltdown Was Brutal
You gotta be kidding me with how this game played out. The Buckeyes looked dominant, holding a 20-3 lead at halftime and stretching that to 23-3 with a solid chunk of the third quarter left. Then, it was like someone flipped a switch, and Texas started scoring touchdowns on three straight possessions. Ohio State just sputtered out and collapsed, giving up the lead and the game. How does a team only manage three points and a measly 132 total yards in an entire second half? After scoring on four of their first five drives, their five second-half possessions netted three punts and two field goal attempts, with one 45-yarder that could’ve iced the game not even coming close. That’s just a complete and utter breakdown.
Day’s Demons Haunt Them Again
It’s not just *how* they lost; it’s *that* they lost this way. Almost all of Day’s losses have featured at least two of three major issues: red zone struggles, awful clock management, and a special teams unit that’s a disaster. Guess what? This game had all three! Texas practically begged Ohio State to run away with it early on, even fumbling on their opening possession in the red zone. What did Day’s group do? Eleven yards on six plays and a 26-yard field goal. That became the theme, with Ohio State only getting 13 points on their first four red zone trips, including another 30-yard field goal and a turnover on downs at the Texas 12-yard line. It felt exactly like the 2016 Clemson loss in the College Football Playoff, where red zone woes turned a potential blowout into heartbreaking defeat.
And don’t even get me started on the clock management. With Texas on the Ohio State 1-yard line and 1:23 left, Day should have called his final timeout. Let Texas score, give Julian Sayin and the offense more than a minute to drive for a game-winning field goal. Instead, they let Texas run three more plays to reach the end zone, leaving Ohio State with 25 seconds, zero timeouts, and absolutely zero chance for any heroics. It’s a replay of the 2022 Georgia College Football Playoff game, where bungling the final possession left them with 51 seconds and only a missed 50-yard field goal attempt.
This one stings, big time. You’ve got to wonder what Day is going to say about these repeated issues. With the team now sitting at 1-3 in their last four, the pressure is real. They need to figure this out, and fast, because those are the kind of losses that stick with you.
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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