No. 2 Ohio State suffered a stunning 30-18 defeat to USC, a result that ranks among the worst performances of the Ryan Day era. The loss drops the Buckeyes to 6-2, marking the first time since 2011 that Ohio State has recorded two losses before November. This is only the second unranked loss of Day’s career, joining the 2024 Michigan defeat, and signals a significant regression in a team previously viewed as a national title contender.
Ryan Day’s Buckeyes face a crisis of confidence as QB uncertainty looms over final stretch
The injury to starting quarterback Julian Sayin remains the primary concern, as he was hurt in the second half of the win against No. 5 Indiana. However, the USC loss exposes deeper systemic issues beyond the injury report. With several quality opponents remaining in the final month of the season, Ohio State’s dreams of a national title are fading fast. The Buckeyes now face a gauntlet of high-stakes games that will determine whether they can salvage their season or if the program is heading for a historic down year.
Despite the setback, Ohio State remains in the College Football Playoff mix thanks to impressive wins over No. 14 Iowa and No. 5 Indiana. The Buckeyes still have winnable matchups against Oregon and No. 20 Northwestern, but they are firmly on the bubble. A single additional regular-season loss would likely keep them out of the field, creating immense pressure on a roster currently struggling with consistency and depth.
Source: CBS Sports
