The Ohio State Buckeyes are in big trouble. After consecutive losses to USC and Oregon, the Buckeyes are simply reeling. Instead of playing for a national championship this season, Ohio State appears to be out of contention and playing for mere respectability.
Ohio State may have gotten off to a sharp start against the visiting Ducks by scoring 14 points in the first quarter. However, all that did was wake the visitors, who would score the next 38 points as they registered a stunning 41-28 triumph.
Ohio State has struggled badly since losing starting QB Julian Sayin to a fractured elbow in a victory over Indiana. The offense has lost its momentum, and the defense has failed to do its job.
In the loss to Oregon, the Ducks showed off their creativity behind quarterback Dylan Raiola. The Buckeyes could not match that aspect of the game, and head coach Ryan Day admitted his team was not able to keep up with Oregon in that area and it cost his team in the matchup.
“I give them credit because they did some good things there,” Day said after the game. “It's our job. We have to figure some things out. We have to figure out a way to put our guys in a position to be successful. Creativity is one of those things and I can't sit here and say we've done a good enough job the last two games.”
Ohio State will try to bounce back next week at home against Northwestern before playing at Nebraska and at home against Michigan in the final two weeks of the regular season.