It’s Oregon week for the Ohio State Buckeyes, and the stakes are sky high. Ohio State hosts the Ducks on Saturday after a disappointing 30-18 road loss to USC in Week 9 of the college football season. The Buckeyes close the regular season with Oregon, Northwestern, Nebraska, and Michigan, and every one of those games is a must-win. A third loss would very well knock Ohio State out of the College Football Playoff picture.

The USC game was supposed to be a test of how the roster could rally around a new starter. Freshman QB Luke Fahey made his first career start after replacing the injured Julian Sayin, and Ohio State coach Ryan Day was adamant before the game that the Buckeyes needed to pick up the slack around him. That didn’t happen.

Ryan Day addresses what went wrong against USC

Ohio State put together a lackluster defensive performance, struggled on special teams, and watched its offense stall in the red zone. The Buckeyes racked up 464 total yards but only managed 18 points. That’s not good enough, and you’re not going to win many games when you can’t finish drives at a higher level.

Day spoke Monday night about Ohio State coming up short in Los Angeles. He admitted the Buckeyes didn’t answer the challenge that was presented. 

“One of the challenges to the entire team was with the freshman quarterback; everyone needs to step up, and that didn’t happen,” Day admitted via 97.1 The Fan. “Obviously, it starts with the coaching, and we have to do a better job of making sure these guys are more prepared.”

Ryan Day on 97. 1 The Fan: "One of the challenges to the entire team was with the freshman quarterback; everyone needs to step up, and that didn't happen. Obviously, it starts with the coaching, and we have to do a better job of making sure these guys are more prepared."

— Lyle Alenstein (@LAlenstein) November 2, 2026

Buckeyes defense had an uncharacteristic night

The Ohio State defense has been the backbone of the program, so allowing 30 points was a surprise. USC finished with 338 total yards, and 222 of those came through the air. Trojans QB Jayden Maiava had a strong night, completing 15 of 22 passes with a touchdown.

USC found success on the ground too. Starting RB King Miller went for 78 yards on 13 touches, keeping the Buckeyes from teeing off on the pass rush.

Explosive plays were the biggest issue. USC WR Trent Mosley and young star TE Mark Bowman both broke off big gains against the Ohio State secondary. Giving up chunk plays has not been a habit for this defense, and it can’t become one with Oregon next on the schedule.

Oregon offers a chance to get right

With a freshman starting at quarterback, the rest of the roster has to do its job. Expecting a first-year player to carry the team is not realistic, and Day’s comments made it clear he knows that. The defense has to return to form, special teams has to clean up its mistakes, and the offense has to turn yards into touchdowns once it reaches the red zone.

It won’t be easy against an Oregon team that comes into Columbus off of a ranked win over Northwestern. Still, Saturday is a chance for Ohio State to respond after a frustrating trip to USC. The margin for error is gone for the rest of the season, and the Buckeyes know exactly what a third loss would mean for their playoff hopes.