Ohio State falters again in loss to Oregon

Sports BuckEyes Top Stories Facebook X Pinterest WhatsApp COLUMBUS – For the first quarter of Oregon’s 41-28 win over Ohio State on Saturday at Ohio Stadium OSU played like a team full of focus and confidence after an intense week of preparation and coaching. But the next three quarters not one word of that description described OSU. Not one word. After taking a 14-0 lead in the first 13 ½ minutes of the game, No. 11 Ohio State (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten) was outscored 38-0 from early in the second quarter until early in the fourth quarter. Two OSU touchdown passes in the final four minutes of the game made the score appear closer than it actually was. “We didn’t expect any of this to happen,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “We thought the way we came out and played in the first quarter would be the way we played in this game” Day described himself as “extremely disappointed” with what he saw. “Two weeks in a row to get this same result, something’s got to change,” he said. “I think we have to evaluate the things we felt we needed to do in this game which were not met, particularly on offense.” Offensive tackle Austin Siereveld said, “There’s really not an explanation for that. They were a better team than us today. It was rough. There’s no way to describe it.” Safety Jaylen McClain said, “I feel like we came out swinging and fought to the end, no matter what.” The loss put OSU’s chances of being invited to be an at large team in the 12-team College Football Playoff into the extremely unlikely category. It still could get into the playoff by getting into the Big Ten championship game and winning it. But that would require Ohio State winning its next three games and some other Big Ten teams stumbling over the next three weeks. Ohio State built its early lead on a 16-yard touchdown run by Bo Jackson on its first possession of the game and an 8-yard touchdown run by him on OSU’s third possession. The last few minutes of the second quarter have been extremely good to Ohio State this season but Saturday night they were extremely costly. It had a streak of seven straight games in which it scored a touchdown in the final minute of the second quarter earlier this season. With Ohio State up 14-3, Oregon ran a fake punt on fourth down late in the second quarter. And it wasn’t just any old fake punt. The snap went to linebacker Teitum Tuioti, who threw a pass to edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei, who gained 30 yards to OSU’s 39-yard line on the play. Four plays later Dierre Hill’s 9-yard touchdown run cut the Buckeyes’ lead to 14-10. After a quick turnover when freshman quarterback Luke Fahey threw an interception, Jamari Johnson scored on a two-yard touchdown run to give the Ducks their first lead at 17-14 at halftime. “I think really where the game changed was when we lost those two possessions,” Day said. “In hindsight we probably should have run the ball and gotten out of the half.” Oregon (6-3 overall, 4-2 Big Ten) built its lead to 38-14 before Ohio State scored again. Ohio State outgained Oregon 413 yards to 395 yards but had only 56 yards rushing, Fahey was 36 of 50 for 360 yards and the two late in the game touchdown passes to Jeremiah Smith and Nate Roberts. Smith caught 7 passes for 133 yards and Devin McCuin had 9 catches for 84 yards. Oregon quarterback Dylan Raiola was 25 of 40 for 257 yards and two touchdowns. Featured Local Savings