Ohio State cratered to 11th in the newest AP Top 25 poll, taking a brutal 30-18 upset loss to USC, who clawed their way back into the rankings at #18 after being unranked. That’s a serious gut punch for a team that was in the Top 10, and it has everyone looking sideways at head coach Ryan Day.
Buckeyes Offense Is A Total Head-Scratcher
Listen, the Buckeyes’ offense without Julian Sayin under center? It was rough to watch. True freshman Luke Fahey got his first start on the road in rainy conditions, going 21-of-38 for 260 yards and one touchdown. He did “reasonably well” for a debut, sure, but the entire offense clearly suffered. And frankly, it just raises even more questions about why former 5-star recruit Tavien St. Clair is still glued to the bench. What’s the plan here, really?
But the real problem? That fourth quarter against USC. The lack of urgency was glaring. When you are down multiple scores, you cannot afford to have two drives take 12 minutes off the clock. That is absolutely ludicrous. Day has an .863 career winning percentage, which is crazy good, but critics are already asking if he’s failing to get the most out of his teams after eight full seasons. Ohio State keeps falling short in the same old ways, and a performance like that just fuels the calls for him to get fired. You have to wonder what’s going on in that locker room.
Meanwhile, Miami Holds Tight, Utah and UCLA CRASH the Top Five
While Ohio State is in a full-blown crisis, Miami (8-0) remains locked in the No. 1 spot after surviving a scare on the road against North Carolina. They held on, which is what good teams do, but it wasn’t pretty. Indiana (8-1) also snatched victory from the jaws of defeat but paid a price, falling out of the top five into the No. 6 spot. You can escape an upset, but sometimes the voters make you pay anyway.
Then you have Utah (8-0) and UCLA (8-0) making huge statements. Utah is a top-five squad for the first time since 2019, coming in at #3 after absolutely coasting past Cincinnati 49-25. Their efforts are finally being recognized by the AP voters in a big way, and it’s well deserved. UCLA, the last of the three FBS teams without a loss, also stormed into the top five at #5 for the first time since 2001. Shutting out Nevada 27-0 was impressive, especially when their offense wasn’t clicking. They weren’t seriously threatened all day. These two Pac-12 powerhouses are now undeniable.
For Ohio State, the path to the College Football Playoff is still there, but it’s looking a lot shakier after Week 10. They probably have to win out, and after what we saw from Ryan Day’s coaching in the fourth quarter, confidence is nowhere near where it should be. The next few weeks are going to tell us everything we need to know.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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