No. 2 Ohio State dropped a stunning performance against USC, a 30-18 loss that ranks among the worst of the Ryan Day era. The defeat dropped the Buckeyes to 6-2, marking the first time Ohio State has recorded two losses before November since 2011. The loss is only the second unranked loss of Day's career, joining 2024 Michigan.
Of course, the injury to starting quarterback Julian Sayin stands above all other factors. Sayin was hurt in the second half of a win against No. 5 Indiana. But what else has gone wrong to drop the Buckeyes back towards the field?
With several quality opponents remaining on the schedule in the final month of the season, Ohio State's dreams of a national title are fading fast. Even after picking up a second loss, Ohio State is likely still in the College Football Playoff mix. The Buckeyes have impressive wins over No. 14 Iowa and No. 5 Indiana that should help their resume.
There are also still quality winnable matchups remaining against Oregon and No. 20 Northwestern. After losing to USC, though, the Buckeyes are firmly on the bubble. A single regular-season loss from here on out would keep them out of the field, and more are on the table with the struggles for Ohio State on both sides.
CBS Sports projects Ohio State as the 7-seed in the College Football Playoff with an 11-2 record and a loss in the Big Ten title game against undefeated UCLA. When Julian Sayin went down with a likely season-ending injury, Ohio State opted to go with true freshman Luke Fahey over national top-five recruit Tavien St. The Class of 2026 recruit impressed in practice to win the job, but his limitations have been stark.
Fahey was inconsistent on downfield passes, failing to clear even 150 passing yards until deep into the fourth quarter. Clair has a more impressive physical profile, but after transitioning from playing at a smaller school in Bellefontaine, Ohio, there are questions about his familiarity with the offense. Still, coach Ryan Day would be smart to open the competition and see what he can get from both quarterbacks.
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