No. 2 Ohio State lost a stunning performance to USC, a 30-18 defeat that ranks among the worst of the Ryan Day era.
The loss dropped the Buckeyes to 6-2, marking the first time Ohio State has recorded two losses before November since 2011. The defeat is only the second unranked defeat of Day’s career, joining Michigan in 2024.
Of course, starting quarterback Julian Sayin’s injury outweighs all other factors. Sayin was injured in the second half of a win over No. 5 Indiana. But what went wrong to get the Buckeyes back on the field?
With several quality opponents remaining on the schedule in the final month of the season, Ohio State’s national title dreams are quickly fading.
Will Ohio State make the College Football Playoff?
Even after suffering a second loss, Ohio State is likely still in the College Football Playoff mix. The Buckeyes have impressive wins against No. 14 Iowa and No. 5 Indiana that should help their recovery. There are also quality winnable matchups remaining against Oregon and No. 20 Northwestern.
After losing to USC, the Buckeyes are firmly on the bubble. Just one regular season loss from here on out would keep them off the field, and more are on the table with Ohio State’s struggles on both sides.
CBS Sports projects Ohio State as the 7 seed in the College Football Playoff with an 11-2 record and a loss in the Big Ten title game to undefeated UCLA.
Will a change of quarterback help?
When Julian Sayin suffered a potentially season-ending injury, Ohio State opted to go with true freshman Luke Fahey over national recruit Tavien St. Clair. The Class of 2026 recruit impressed in practice to win the job, but his limitations were glaring.
Fahey was inconsistent on passes downfield, failing to even clear 150 passing yards before the start of the fourth quarter. St. Clair has a more impressive physical profile, but after leaving a small school in Bellefontaine, Ohio, questions arise about his familiarity with the offense.
Still, coach Ryan Day would be smart to open up the contest and see what he can get from both quarterbacks.
Has the defense taken a step back?
Ohio State’s defense has been a mainstay over the past three seasons, but the unit was disappointing against USC. A week after the Trojans were held to seven points — the worst offensive performance of Lincoln Riley’s career — Ohio State allowed 30 points and several breakdowns in the passing game.
USC receiver Trent Mosley had a 69-yard touchdown run on the second play of the game to start the fireworks. Tight end Mark Bowman also delivered a snarling 70-yard catch-and-run to get into end zone.
Even against a USC offense that struggled to win early on, Ohio State’s pass rush wasn’t a relative factor. The Buckeyes have repeatedly sent top talent to the NFL. Eventually this starts to cause problems.
Can Jeremiah Smith still win the Heisman?
Even with inconsistent passing game production, Smith managed to be a factor offensively. The junior caught 10 passes for 83 yards and a late touchdown, keeping his production somewhat respectable. At the same time, the limits were obvious.
Smith entered the game averaging about 19.0 yards per reception. With Fahey in the lineup, he dropped to 8.3 yards per catch. An 83-yard performance is still solid, but would make Smith a productive, non-generational receiver.
Fahey will continue to grow in the coming weeks and was quick to target Smith when he was available. Still, it’s hard to see Smith’s production downfield as a factor.
Is Day up to the challenge?
Two years ago, Ohio State lost to unranked Michigan, the first unranked loss of the Day era. The Buckeyes entered the laboratory and became the best team in the country, heading to a national championship.
Two years later, however, these Buckeyes no longer have quite the same level. Ohio State fell to No. 5 in the 247Sports Talent Composite, its lowest ranking since the metric was introduced. Outside of Smith, the Buckeyes don’t have a player in the top 50 in the NFL Draft prospect rankings. It’s a good team, but nothing like those in the championship.
Critics have long claimed that Day was born at third base. This is the moment when we discover if he is capable of coaching a deficient squad.
Gn sports
