Ohio State took a gut punch, a 30-18 loss to USC that straight up ranks among the absolute worst of the Ryan Day era. This isn’t just any defeat, it dropped the No. 2 Buckeyes to 6-2, marking the first time since 2011 they’ve racked up two losses before November. For Day, it’s only the second unranked loss of his entire career, joining that one against 2024 Michigan. The margin for error is officially gone, gone, gone.
Who’s Under Center? That’s the Million-Dollar Question.
The biggest factor in this mess? Starting quarterback Julian Sayin is out, likely for the season, after getting hurt in the second half of a win against No. 5 Indiana. So, what did Ryan Day do? He went with true freshman Luke Fahey over a national top-five recruit, Tavien St. Clair. Fahey supposedly impressed in practice, but on the field against USC, his limitations were stark. Inconsistent on downfield passes, he didn’t even clear 150 passing yards until deep into the fourth quarter. Yikes. St. Clair has a way more impressive physical profile, but he’s got questions about his familiarity with the offense after transitioning from a smaller school in Bellefontaine, Ohio. Coach Day would be smart, like, real smart, to open up that competition. See what he can get from *both* of them, because right now, the QB situation is not cutting it.
Defense Collapses, Playoff Hopes on Life Support.
And then there’s the defense. For the past three seasons, this unit has been a mainstay, a rock. Against USC, they were just plain disappointing. One week after USC was held to a measly seven points, the worst offensive performance of Lincoln Riley’s career, Ohio State allowed 30 points and multiple breakdowns in the passing game. We’re talking USC wide receiver Trent Mosley ripping off a 69-yard touchdown on the second play of the game to kick off the fireworks! Then tight end Mark Bowman had a rumbling 70-yard catch-and-run into scoring territory. That’s not the Ohio State defense we’ve seen.
So, where does this leave them? Their national title dreams are fading fast. Even with two losses, they’re still somehow in the College Football Playoff mix, thanks to impressive wins over No. 14 Iowa and No. 5 Indiana. But after that USC loss, the Buckeyes are firmly on the bubble. CBS Sports projects them as the 7-seed with an 11-2 record and a loss in the Big Ten title game against an undefeated UCLA. They’ve still got tough but winnable matchups against Oregon and No. 20 Northwestern. But a single regular-season loss from here on out? It keeps them out, flat out. Ryan Day has to figure out these QB struggles and get that defense back to being a “mainstay” because the national championship dream is hanging on by a thread.
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.
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