Eric Boggs
Saturday’s game against Oregon was a gut punch for Ohio State fans. In their first major test of the season, the Buckeyes came up short, falling 32-31 to the Ducks at Autzen Stadium. The loss drops Ohio State to 5-1 at the halfway point, but what really stings is how it unfolded.
Ohio State was clinging to a two-point lead late in the fourth quarter, but Oregon marched 75 yards down the field to kick a go-ahead field goal. Despite getting the ball back with time to spare, the Buckeyes couldn’t muster one final push to steal the win. The offense moved into Oregon territory, but a costly offensive pass interference call pushed them back. The clock ultimately ran out on a scramble by Will Howard, ending the game and our hopes for a victory.
The defense, which came into the game ranked No. 1 in the country in both scoring and total defense, had a night to forget. Oregon racked up 496 yards of offense, including 341 through the air. Dillon Gabriel picked apart the Buckeyes’ secondary, especially targeting top corner Denzel Burke for two of the game’s biggest plays—a 69-yard bomb to Evan Stewart and a 48-yard strike to Tez Johnson. Those lapses in coverage were uncharacteristic of a unit that had shown much more discipline in earlier games.
After the game, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles took responsibility. “We didn’t make enough plays. We weren’t outstanding in any area. That’s on me,” he said. Knowles emphasized that the defense needs to learn from this performance, as it was clear the big plays were the difference-maker.
It wasn’t just the coverage that faltered. Ohio State couldn’t generate any consistent pass rush, failing to sack Gabriel even once. The Buckeyes also allowed Oregon running back Jordan James to rush for 115 yards, including a 25-yard gain that highlighted the lack of physicality at the line of scrimmage. Gabriel even added insult to injury with a 27-yard touchdown run, juking multiple defenders en route to the end zone.
While the defense struggled, Ohio State’s offense had its bright spots. Howard continued to show his leadership, finishing strong with a touchdown pass to Emeka Egbuka just before halftime. TreVeyon Henderson’s explosive runs got the Buckeyes into scoring position early, and Jeremiah Smith made some highlight-reel catches, including a 38-yard snag to set up a touchdown in the third quarter. But pre-snap penalties and turnovers, including a fumble by Quinshon Judkins, came back to haunt Ohio State.
The Buckeyes had their opportunities to put the game away, but mistakes allowed Oregon to hang around. A botched extra point, a missed field goal, and even a surprise onside kick recovery by the Ducks shifted momentum in favor of Oregon. Despite these miscues, Ohio State still had the ball in the final minutes with a chance to win, but the offense couldn’t finish the job.
With a bye week ahead, this loss provides a chance for the Buckeyes to regroup. Knowles said it best: “We’ve got to coach harder and practice better.” The defense needs to figure out how to regain the dominance it showed earlier in the season, especially in the secondary. There’s no time to sulk in this one-point loss—Ohio State has the talent to bounce back, but they’ll need to shore up these issues if they want to compete for a national championship.
There’s still plenty of football to be played, and as Buckeye fans, we know this team has what it takes. Time to learn from this loss and come back stronger.
