Ohio State QB Luke Fahey’s wholesome admission following his first win as a starter against Northwestern is a good one
Saturday was a big one for the Fahey family, and Luke’s words confirm as much following his first win as an Ohio State starting quarterback.
The Ohio State Buckeyes’ 28-19 win over the Northwestern Wildcats in Week 11 mattered for multiple reasons. Most importantly, it snapped a two-game losing streak after back-to-back losses to USC and Oregon, and it moved Ohio State to 7-3.
A scoreless first quarter didn’t keep the Buckeyes from eventually getting the offense going. The defense was good enough throughout to secure the win. Another thing that mattered on Saturday was freshman quarterback Luke Fahey picking up his first win as a starter in Columbus.
Luke Fahey had his best game as Ohio State’s starter in Week 11
Fahey took over for Julian Sayin after Sayin’s elbow injury in Week 7 against Indiana knocked him out for the season. Ohio State won that game, but the Buckeyes then lost Fahey’s first two starts.
The true freshman responded with his best performance so far against Northwestern. Fahey completed 21-of-32 passes for 201 yards with three touchdown passes and one interception. It was the first three-touchdown game of his career.
The protection held up better as well for Ohio State’s current QB1. Fahey was sacked just once by the Wildcats after taking a couple of sacks in each of his first two starts.
The plan was never for Fahey to play as a freshman. He won the backup quarterback battle over Tavien St. Clair, and the injury to Sayin forced him into action. Ohio State now has a young quarterback who looks like he is starting to find his footing.
Fahey gets real about what the win meant to him
After the game, Fahey opened up about the moment, and it’s hard not to love his response.
“It definitely feels good. I can’t even describe how I feel right now. I kind of can’t wait to go see my mom, my dad, and get to call my grandparents as well because this is a moment we’ve all kind of dreamed about,” Fahey admitted. “To kind of run out there every single time, it’s truly unreal. And to finally get a win, words can’t describe how I feel right now.”
The 5-foot-11 former three-star recruit is from California, but he grew up a lifelong Buckeye fan and has watched Ohio State football his entire life. His grandparents attended Ohio State, and the family’s ties to the program date back several decades.
That makes this a special moment for the whole family. Luke now has a win under his belt as the starting quarterback at Ohio State.
Fahey’s performance wasn’t perfect, but it was a step in the right direction. He also showed off a strong connection with Jeremiah Smith, who finished with 11 catches for 117 yards and a touchdown. Smith went over 20 minutes straight in gametime against Oregon without a target last time out, and Week 11 was the total opposite.
Ohio State faces Nebraska in Week 12 in another key matchup. Fahey going to have a chance to pick up win No. 2 as a Buckeye, and this win over Northwestern is one he can build off of.
