The Ohio State Buckeyes’ season is officially dead. Ohio State has now lost back-to-back games, and this one came at home against a three-loss Oregon team in a game the Buckeyes had to have after falling to USC.

Ohio State was supposed to start November by reeling off four straight wins to reach the College Football Playoff. Instead, the Buckeyes took a 41-28 loss on the chin in embarrassing fashion. This game was not as close as the score shows with the Buckeyes adding a couple of scores late, and that needs pointed out.

No one wanted the Julian Sayin injury in the win over Indiana to be the beginning of the end for Ohio State, but that’s exactly what it was. Ohio State’s freshman quarterback isn’t good enough to lift what has become a mediocre team around him at this point in the college football season.

Here is the winner and losers coming out of the Oregon game.

Winner: Jay Timmons

Timmons is the only player on the winners list. Timmons missed the previous game against USC, and Ohio State’s defense missed him badly.

The Buckeyes’ defense still played poorly against the Ducks. However, Timmons’ imprint was noticeable, and he played a solid game with three tackles, including a tackle for loss right off the start. Timmons is an important piece of the future in Columbus, and it’s too bad meaningful football ends here for him this season.

Loser: Ryan Day

Ohio State is 6-5 over its last 11 games. That’s an unacceptable mark in Columbus, and Day is going to have to answer for it.

The lack of development for former five-star recruit Tavien St. Clair is a bad look that falls on Day’s shoulders. That resulted in the Buckeyes having to throw freshman Luke Fahey out there at quarterback when Sayin went down. The pressure is hot on Day after two straight losses, with Ohio State heading toward missing the College Football Playoff.

Loser: EDGE Kenyatta Jackson

Ohio State’s defense needed a leader to step up, not only with his own play but by lifting the players around him. Jackson finished with a couple of tackles, but he was again nowhere to be seen when it came to getting after the quarterback.

Jackson has just three sacks this season, and it’s been a disappointing senior campaign for the Buckeyes’ pass rusher.

Loser: S Jaylen McClain

The game changed in the first half when Ohio State had a chance at an interception, and McClain dropped it. Oregon went on to score a touchdown on that drive, and the Ducks would not be stopped from there.

McClain’s first six games of the season were strong. Still, the last couple of weeks have been rough for one of Ohio State’s defensive leaders.

Loser: OC Arthur Smith

When Jeremiah Smith goes 20-plus game minutes without a target, that falls on the offensive coordinator. Arthur Smith needed to at least draw up a screen to get the ball into the hands of the best player in America.

Smith’s inability to create improvement around freshman QB Luke Fahey sticks out in this one. There’s no reason to believe he’ll be back for a second season calling plays at Ohio State.

Loser: CB Devin Sanchez

It’s been a dissapointing season for Sanchez in terms of what folks hoped he could be. The sophomore is not ready to be that lockdown CB1 type and Oregon was able to win against him multiple times. Tackling especially is not Sanchez’s strong suit, and he was embarrassed on one touchdown where it looked like he wanted nothing to do with contact.