Ohio State came into the game against Oregon at home needing to get back into the win column. The first 15 minutes were a very encouraging sign, with the Buckeyes racing out to a 14-point lead, but after that, it was all Oregon in an embarrassing rout.
It was quite literally the worst performance we've seen from an Ohio State football team at home in a long, long time (maybe 1999 vs. Wisconsin), and it's hard to look back and pick out some things we learned, but that's what we are tasked with doing. It wasn't pretty, and the things we've learned here will be anything but positive.
Here are five things we think we learned after a very, very embarrassing Ohio State program loss on the banks of the Olentangy vs. Oregon.
You can't leave Jeremiah Smith out of the game plan for Ohio State
Jeremiah Smith walking into
Ryan Day’s office after the game to turn in his Ohio State jersey pic.twitter.com/VUeZCvfr9l
— Hater Report (@HaterReport) November 8, 2026
When you have the best player in college football, he needs targets. He needs them when you are winning; he needs them in a tight game, and he needs them when trying to get back in the game. Somehow, someway, Jeremiah Smith went almost two quarters without a target with Ohio State struggling, and someone has to answer for that.
Smith finished with seven catches for 133 yards and a touchdown, but that was when the game was in doubt. At one point he was visibly frustrated, even screaming at someone or a group after a catch for no gain in the fourth quarter. He'll go down as the best receiver to ever wear the Ohio State uniform and could be the best college receiver ever, and he deserves a better fate. A better fate for him might have resulted in a better fate for the team. It'll be interesting to hear an explanation for him getting lost in the game flow in the postgame press conference.
Where was Tavien St. Clair for Ohio State?
Do you have to at least try Tavien St. Clair at this point? pic.twitter.com/hb5wI4LVEe
— The Triple Option (@3xOptionShow) November 7, 2026
Look, I'm not saying Tavien St. Clair is better than Luke Fahey. The coaches see more than any of us do. However, when things are going as badly as they are, something has to be done to try and change things up and create a spark. Is Fahey that much better that the coaching staff couldn't get St. Clair out there to see if a change in scenery could help?
I don't understand not trying something different, and I'm sure everyone sitting on their couches doesn't understand it either. Sometimes you just have to make a change just to reset things. Coaches are paid a lot for these types of things, and again, almost everyone would like to know why there wasn't at least a shot at changing things up.
Luke Fahey struggled at times for Ohio State despite the stats
It’s so crazy how Luke Fahey is 36/50 360 yards. There must be some sort of tax we can place on that.
— Chris May (@mayday_36) November 8, 2026
Last week, many came to the defense of the freshman Fahey, making his first-ever start on the road. For the most part, that analysis was correct because those around him made so many mental and physical mistakes that didn't give him much of a chance to be successful. Still, I didn't subscribe to him having "nothing to do" with the loss. He's still a young guy learning how to play and had footwork issues and some misfires and overthrows that could have made it a different game.
We saw more of that this game. He had a hard time getting through his progressions, rarely tried to throw the ball to what could have been a warm glass of milk, Jeremiah Smith (until late), and often panicked and just checked the ball down too often, hanging his receivers out to dry with some big hits at times. He finished the game with 360 yards passing, but that was with a ton of volume and a lot of yards and points left out on the field. He wasn't bad, but he didn't do enough in the middle of the game either.
The Ohio State defense is regressing
This is two weeks in a row with the Ohio State defense giving up far too many big plays. The game plan early on of dropping guys in coverage and making Dylan Raiola find open receivers was working, but after he realized he was going to have time to throw the ball, he got much more confident and made some big-time throws and plays. It wasn't a massive stat day, but he was efficient and poised.
On top of that, the running game made some big plays, and the defense couldn't make stops when it desperately needed. Oregon rolled up over 400 yards in this one, and the defense has now given up 30 points or more in two consecutive weeks, and that's not the standard of an Ohio State defense. The Buckeyes refuse to change to a more aggressive style, and it's hurting this team, offense or not.
Where do things go from here for Ohio State?
There will be more on this, but now we have to wonder where this program and team are. It's likely curtains for the College Football Playoff and Big Ten Championship game, and we haven't been in that position in a long, long time in Columbus. So, how does this team react? Can it get up off the mat and finish out the season well, or will there be a continued regression?
You'd have to think the pride and skill on this team will win out, and there may still be an outside shot at getting back into the mix for some big things, but we'll see how things play out against Northwestern next week. That will be telling because that's going to be a blue-collar type of affair that won't be easy.
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Five things we learned from an embarrassng Ohio State loss to Oregon
