Okay, so this whole 12-team playoff field? It’s supposed to be forgiving, right? Like, a mulligan or two, maybe even three, for an early season slip-up. That’s the vibe we’ve been hearing for the past couple of years. But after just two weeks of ball in early September, some Big Ten teams are really testing that theory, making us wonder just how many “mulligans” are actually on the table.
What the Heck Happened in Columbus?
First up, what the heck happened with the Ohio State Buckeyes? They were sitting pretty with a 23-3 lead over the Longhorns going into the fourth quarter, and then boom! Arch Manning goes all superhero, rallies his team, and Ohio State blows a 20-point lead. Twenty points! It’s still stinging for sure, especially seeing the Longhorns jump them in the polls. Head coach Ryan Day’s team isn’t out of the playoff conversation, not by a long shot, but that kind of collapse just bites. Remember 2024 against “The Team Up North”? They rebounded then, but this one felt different, letting Texas keep coming back. Day even punted on fourth-and-four from the UT 39-yard line when they were up 20-3 on the first series of the second half. And listen, Julian Sayin was 12-for-16 with 192 yards in the first half, and Jeremiah Smith already had six catches for 110 yards! The offense just stalled out, managing less than 100 yards on 22 plays for the rest of the game. You hate to Monday morning quarterback, but come on. Looking ahead, Kent State rolls into Columbus this Saturday for a guaranteed $1.9 million payday and a likely beatdown. Then it gets real with Illinois for their conference opener, a trip to Iowa, and Maryland before things get heavy in mid-October with Indiana.
The Ducks Can’t Afford Their Rushing Game to Stall
Then there’s the Oregon Ducks, who flew all the way to Stillwater and still came up short, losing 34-31 to Oklahoma State. They had two slim leads, but just couldn’t hold onto either of them. And get this: they got outgained by nearly a two-to-one margin, 554-281. Yikes! We’re not even sure what to make of these new-look Cowboys, with coach Eric Morris bringing a bunch of players, including QB Drew Mestemaker, from North Texas, and they even lost their opener in Tulsa. So for Oregon to get smacked like that? Head coach Dan Lanning’s crew has some serious work to do, especially with the running game. They’re sitting at 120th nationally in rushing yards per game, which is just brutal. They haven’t exactly feasted on FCS teams either, even playing Boise State. That rushing attack HAS to pick up the pace, because after hosting Portland State this Saturday, they’ve got a trip to USC coming up next week. If they can somehow get past the Trojans, their October slate looks pretty sweet: UCLA, Nebraska, Illinois, and Northwestern, with only the Fighting Illini game on the road. Manageable is an understatement if they can just get that run game sorted.
So, yeah, it’s early September, and these Big Ten heavyweights have already given us some jaw-dropping moments for all the wrong reasons. The forgiving playoff field is a silver lining, but that doesn’t make these losses feel any less gut-wrenching right now. Both teams have a chance to reset this Saturday: Ohio State against Kent State and Oregon against Portland State. Can they turn the page and show us they’re still contenders? We’re watching every snap to find out what’s really cooking.
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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