The No. 2 Buckeyes fell 30-18 to USC on Saturday night in Los Angeles, dropping to 6-2 on the season. Despite outgaining the Trojans 464-338, Ohio State couldn’t overcome costly mistakes, missed opportunities in the red zone, and USC’s ability to generate explosive plays.
There were some encouraging individual performances, though. Making his first career start, freshman quarterback Luke Fahey completed 21 of 38 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown without throwing an interception. Bo Jackson added
121 rushing yards, while Jeremiah Smith caught 10 passes for 83 yards and a touchdown, setting the Big Ten career record with his 40th touchdown reception.
Cole and Joey recap the disappointing performance, hand out their good, bad, and ugly from the loss, and try to figure out where the Buckeyes go from here.
The good, the bad and the ugly
Despite the result, there were some positives to take away. Fahey looked comfortable in his first career start, while Jackson, Isaiah West, Jeremiah Smith and Connor Hawkins all had moments worth highlighting.
Unfortunately, the negatives were much more difficult to overlook. Ohio State committed 11 penalties for 71 yards, struggled to finish drives with touchdowns, and allowed two massive passing plays, including a 69-yard touchdown to Trent Mosley. The Trojans also found success on the ground, especially when it mattered most. Cole and Joey go through their biggest individual disappointments, including the defensive line’s inability to consistently generate pressure, missed tackles, and the continued struggles in the red zone.
Where does Ohio State go from here?
Despite the loss, the Buckeyes still have an opportunity to salvage their season. At 4-1 in Big Ten play, Ohio State has plenty left to play for, but the remaining schedule offers very little room for another mistake. Oregon comes to Columbus next Saturday, followed by Northwestern, Nebraska and Michigan to close out the regular season.
Cole and Joey discuss whether this roster has the talent to compete for a National Championship, how much confidence they have in Ryan Day, and whether the defensive struggles can be corrected. Fahey’s performance provides some reason for optimism, but Ohio State needs considerably more from the rest of the team.
Around college football and a basketball preview
To wrap things up, the guys catch up on another busy weekend around college football. No. 13 Texas Tech took down No. 22 Arizona, Iowa shut out Wisconsin 30-0, Indiana survived Minnesota in overtime, and Oregon picked up a 34-26 win over Northwestern. Meanwhile, UCLA continued its unbeaten season with a 27-0 shutout of Nevada, and Miami escaped North Carolina with a 38-35 victory.
The latest AP Top 25 also brings a significant shakeup. Miami remains No. 1, Utah climbs to No. 3, UCLA moves into the top five, and Ohio State falls nine spots to No. 11. BYU and Kentucky also find themselves inside the top eight.
Finally, with college basketball season getting underway, Cole and Joey quickly preview Ohio State’s Monday night matchup against No. 25 BYU in Salt Lake City. The Buckeyes open their season against a ranked opponent in what should be an early test for the 2026-27 team.
