It's funny how things play out.
In the preseason, the Ohio State Buckeyes and Oregon Ducks were ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the AP poll. Their Week 10 matchup on Nov. 7 was slated to be the game of the year, with both teams potentially heading into the game in Columbus with undefeated records. It was already being touted as a potential national title game preview.
That is not the world we're living in two and a half months later — far from it.
Instead, both teams face the real possibility of missing out on the College Football Playoff altogether with a loss, as the Ducks are 5-3 and the Buckeyes 6-2. While the path into the 12-team field is much simpler for Ohio State (win out), it's much cloudier for Oregon, as they need to win out and get some
help.
Regardless, the two teams with backup quarterbacks leading the way will face off on Saturday with much on the line. Having developed a bit of a mini-rivalry baked in dislike in recent seasons, the result will have ripple effects further on than this season.
With Oregon trying to head into The Shoe and get their sixth win of the season, keeping themselves alive in the Big Ten title race and nudging ahead of Ohio State, the answers to five questions in particular will be prominent in deciding the game.
Which Oregon team are we getting?
Considering the unpredictable, shaky, uneven — whatever adjective you want to use — last four games it's been for the Ducks, there's no way to know what type of team will show up on Saturday in Columbus. They could be the team that manhandled USC in the fourth quarter and outscored Northwestern 21-6 in the second half, or they could be the one that managed just over 100 yards in the first three quarters against both UCLA and Nebraska.
Against UCLA and Nebraska, the trend of unpredictably shaky play was tied to the offense. That hasn't been the case in the last two outings, as Illinois ran for 225 yards and Northwestern put up 20 points and looked unstoppable in the first 30 minutes.
To take down Ohio State, Oregon will need to be the team that played the final 30 minutes against Northwestern last week, and the team that went into Los Angeles and confidently humbled the Trojans. If it's anything short of those two performances, which are certainly attainable for a third time, than the Ducks shouldn't like their chances of beating the Buckeyes on the road.
Can the Ducks limit Jeremiah Smith's impact?
It's obvious that there's no stopping Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. He's 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds who has elite speed and vertical jumping abilities while also proving to be a reliable target underneath in the run-after-catch game. Smith does it all and will catch the ball everywhere on the field.
The goal for the Ducks should be limiting the impact of Smith in critical moments. Maybe don't completely try to shut him off on early downs, but shade completely to his side on third or fourth downs, forcing backup quarterback Luke Fahey to go to a less trusted target on a gotta-have-it down.
Oregon shouldn't get frustrated if Smith catches 10 passes. That could still be considered a success if they aren't the deep shots and game-altering plays that can flip a contest. There's a blueprint of Smith having a big day and Ohio State still losing — he had eight catches for 164 yards and a touchdown against Texas, but the Longhorns came away with the win because they begun to take him away when things got tight late.
The Ducks must do the same: make someone else beat them in the critical moments of the game.
Will the Ducks win the turnover battle?
Oregon has a small margin for error in this one. That's just the reality, as the Buckeyes have been better all season and, despite having a backup in Fahey, are still very, very talented offensively and defensively. Turning the ball over once may be acceptable as long as it doesn't result in immediate Buckeyes points, but two turnovers might as well guarantee an Oregon loss.
On the other side, forcing Fahey and the Buckeyes into a turnover or two is imperative. Oregon is middle of the pack in forcing 12 turnovers this year, but having an elite turnover-forcing game is just what they need in Week 10.
That, combined with keeping the ball safe on offense, could be just what Oregon needs to get themselves over the top on the road.
How impactful can WR Jeremiah McClellan be?
I may be forced to eat my words on this one, but I truly believe that if Jeremiah McClellan is on the field for the Ducks, it boosts their chances of winning roughly 10%. Missing half the season with a broken foot, McClellan was listed as probable on Wednesday's injury report.
But if he's out on the field and fully healthy with a relatively normal snap count, McClellan gives backup quarterback Dylan Raiola one of the best one-on-one contested catchers in the nation. Ever since he broke into the lineup in 2025, McClellan has been known for his impressive, acrobatic catches on vertical throws on the outside — passes thrown with air and touch, exactly what Raiola has shown to excel at.
If McClellan does, in fact, suit up and play, the Ducks could steal a few big gains down the sideline on vertical routes thrown his way that previously haven't been apart of their offense in his six-game absence.
Can Oregon roll with the punches?
This will be a major test of Oregon's ability to deal with adversity. They've been able to manage taking punches for a majority of the first half against Northwestern, but they didn't really manage to push back until the final two minutes when they put together an impressive drive down 20-6.
If they fall behind two scores to the Buckeyes, it may be too much to come back from. Being able to not feel discouraged if Ohio State drives down for an opening-drive touchdown is imperative, as the Buckeyes will make plenty of plays on Saturday.
The Ducks must roll with the punches and find their time to strike back themselves, hoping that it's enough by the time the clock hits triple zeroes.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Five questions for Oregon to answer against Ohio State in Week 10
