The Ohio State Buckeyes came out of the bye week with about as inexcusable a performance as anyone could have imagined. Ohio State fell 30-18 to the USC Trojans on the road in Week 9, and there was plenty of bad to go around for this Buckeyes team. 

This is a USC team that lost 24-7 to Wisconsin last week, who then got blown out by Iowa on Saturday. Meanwhile, USC coach Lincoln Riley all but got the win he needed to save his tenure. It’s a tough loss to swallow for the Buckeyes, and it raises some big questions. 

Here are three instant potential overreactions to what could come of this game for Ohio State.

Jeremiah Smith could think about ending his college career early with another loss

Ohio State just didn’t get it done through the air against USC. Smith had 10 catches for 83 yards, and the Trojans never allowed him to take over the game at anytime.

Freshman quarterback Luke Fahey wasn’t the whole problem. The offense as a whole was reeling all night, and outside of some success on the ground, there wasn’t much to be had. Ohio State needed the team around Fahey to step up, and it didn’t happen.

Now the Buckeyes have their second loss of the season. Smith is still going to be out there because Ohio State is still playing for a College Football Playoff spot. Still, if the Buckeyes suffer a third loss and are unlikely to make the playoff, you would have to wonder if Smith would at least think about hanging it up.

He has already rewritten the Ohio State record book as a wide receiver, and he’s a national champion. If Ohio State loses a third game and the offense looks anything like it did against USC, Smith isn’t going to win a Heisman either.

Ohio State’s coaching staff could see a major shakeup

The Buckeyes just aren’t getting it done offensively. With quarterback Julian Sayin in his second year as the starter and Smith in his third year, you would have expected more than the borderline top-10 group Ohio State had been entering this game. The Buckeyes needed a top-5 offense this season, and they just don’t have it. 

Then factor in the inability to recruit consistently at running back and tight end specifically. Add the inability to upgrade an offensive line that returned four starters. With all of that, it’s tough to see Ohio State bringing back all of its offensive position coaches next season.

Ohio State’s 2027 starting quarterback isn’t on the roster

Fahey wasn’t the biggest problem against USC. He also didn’t look the part of a future starting quarterback for the Buckeyes. Fahey went 21-of-38 passing for 260 yards with one touchdown pass.

However, there was plenty left on the field by the freshman quarterback. It was his first start as a true freshman, so there’s some grace to be given there. Even so, the performance suggested he isn’t going to be the starting quarterback next season. For now, he’s just what Ohio State has to work with.

I believe the Buckeyes’ 2027 starter is going to come from the transfer portal. After the tough injury to Sayin, it’s hard to see Ohio State simply handing him the job next season without bringing in another quarterback to compete for it.

These could be overreactions, but a third loss would make all three a lot more realistic. The rest of November will be telling for where this Ohio State program is headed.