OSU grade card: In game reversal shocks Buckeyes and fans

Sports BuckEyes Facebook X Pinterest WhatsApp A grade card on Ohio State’s 41-28 loss to Oregon, which was the first time since 2011 that OSU lost two consecutive regular-season games: OFFENSE: D Ohio State’s offense on Saturday was one quarter of flash and three quarters of fizzle. OSU scored two touchdowns in the first 13 1/2 minutes of the game to go ahead 14-0. It didn’t score again until late in the fourth quarter when it got a pair of touchdowns after Oregon had scored 38 unanswered points. OSU had 413 yards of total offense but 42 percent of those yards came in the first quarter. Ohio State’s performance in the run game mirrored the overall offensive effort with a total of only 53 yards in the game, led by Bo Jackson who gained 48 yards on 11 carries and ran for two touchdowns, both in the first quarter. Ohio State’s struggles on offense were a group effort. The offensive line, quarterback, running backs and play callers all could have been much better. Freshman Luke Fahey got mixed reviews again as OSU’s starting quarterback, playing in place of injured Julian Sayin for a second game. He completed 36 of 50 passes for 360 yards, had two touchdown passes and one interception. He was sacked twice. His interception led to Oregon’s go-ahead score in the final minute of the first half. Oregon might have benefitted from having a week of game film from the USC game to study him. Or maybe it was that he was routinely under pressure from Tuitum Tuioti and Matayo Uiagalelei, two of the best pass rushers in the Big Ten. Jeremiah Smith had 7 catches for 133 yards and a touchdown but did not have a pass thrown toward him in the seciond quarter and most of the third quarter. DEFENSE: C- Apparently replacing five NFL draft choices from last year’s defense, including three first-round picks, is not as easy as some people seemed to thnk it would be. Ohio State’s defense gave up 30 points or more for the second game in a row. It held Oregon to only a field goal in the first 27 minutes of the game. Then it allowed 35 points in the next 21 minutes. It missed too many tackles. It allowed a 48-yard touchdown run by Dierre Hill, which included some of the missed tackles. It allowed three other plays of 20 yards or more. It did not have a sack. Jay Timmons and Jaylen McClain, two of the best players on OSU’s defense, dropped what looked like sure thing interceptions. Timmons had nothing but 40 yards of artificial turf between him and the end zone at the time of his drop. SPECIAL TEAMS: F Ohio State’s punt return team fell for a clever fake punt play with three minutes left in the second quarter. That play eventually led to a touchdown and gave Oregon some momentum when it was in short supply for the Ducks. It was the play that changed the game. Ohio State led 14-3 when Oregon decided to try the fake. OVERALL: D A shocking collapse by Ohio State. Ryan Day said he was “beyond disappointed.” Featured Local Savings