No matter how it happened or what the score was, the Ohio State Buckeyes had to get back in the win column against Northwestern. They did just that in Week 11, beating the Wildcats 28-19 to move to 7-3 and snap a two-game losing streak.

Losing to USC and Oregon the last couple of weeks did a big number on Ohio State’s chances of making the College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes no longer control their own destiny as a result. A loss to Northwestern would have meant three straight defeats and a fourth loss overall, and that would have all but ended Ohio State’s playoff hopes.

Ohio State gets back on track against Northwestern

It wasn’t a perfect performance by any means. Still, the Buckeyes looked better overall for much of the game outside of a few plays, and that was a welcome sight after the last two weeks.

The offense was capable, and most importantly, it got the ball to Jeremiah Smith, who finished with 11 catches for 117 receiving yards. It was a key area for improvement that had to happen this week, and Ohio State delivered. The win also gave freshman quarterback Luke Fahey the first victory of his career as the starter.

Northwestern is an improved team, although the Wildcats were down quarterback Aidan Chiles in this game. Ohio State didn’t let the opportunity slip away, and it picked up a much-needed win to end the losing streak.

Ryan Day’s strong statement on the Buckeyes’ culture

After the game, Ohio State coach Ryan Day used his first answer of the postgame press conference to address where things stand with the program. He spoke about the emotional toll of the last few weeks and what Saturday’s win said about his players.

“As you know, the last couple of weeks here haven’t been fun … so it was good to see some guys smiling in the locker room,” Day said. “We forget they’re 18 to 22 years old, and you know, I was explaining to one of the other coaches that when we recruit them here and we get them here, we put them into these arenas … And we almost just think that they become grown men at that moment, but they’re not quite there yet. 

“And so there’s still an unbelievable amount of life lessons to be learned, which is why you get into coaching, is to teach those lessons. Life is about how you handle adversity. And so, you know, when you go through a week the way we did, where you feel like you’ve squandered an opportunity. The ability to bring everybody together and play the way we did today in terms of effort and emotion speaks to the character of the guys in that locker room and where we are in terms of our culture.”

That’s a strong statement from Day. He’s essentially talking about how the Buckeyes rallied together after two tough losses and found a way to end the skid.

It’s also a reminder of the pressure that comes with playing at Ohio State. When expectations are a national title every year, a two-game losing streak in November feels like a crisis. Day framed the win as proof that his locker room hasn’t splintered.

This rough patch for the Buckeyes started when they lost quarterback Julian Sayin for the season in a win over Indiana. Since then, Ohio State has had to lean on Fahey and figure out how to win with a freshman under center.

Saturday showed this team hasn’t quit and is continuing to fight through a difficult stretch. However, Ohio State still has plenty to clean up. The defense gave up six third down conversions to a backup quarterback, and the offense will need to be sharper next week. 

Next up is a road trip to Nebraska, which is a tough place to play. If the Buckeyes can win their next couple of games, they would close the regular season on a 3-0 run after back-to-back losses to USC and Oregon. That would at least put them in position to make a case for the playoff, even without full control over their fate.

Week 11 was a step in the right direction. Whether it was the start of a turnaround or a brief reprieve remains to be seen, and the trip to Lincoln will be telling.