Ohio State football continues to free fall, dropping its second straight game with a 41-28 loss to Oregon at Ohio Stadium on Nov. 7.
The Buckeyes (6-3) started strong, taking a 14-0 lead behind two touchdowns from running back Bo Jackson in the first quarter, but allowed the Ducks (6-3) to score 38 unanswered points.
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Ohio State went into this game trying to bounce back from a 30-18 loss to USC on Oct. 31, and raise its College Football Playoff stock, after being ranked No. 12 in the first rankings.
Here are the game’s key moments and takeaways:
After recording 174 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter, Ohio State’s offense was shut down in the second, logging just 17 total yards and two first downs across 12 plays.
Quarterback Luke Fahey went 5 for 7, throwing a costly interception during Ohio State’s final second-quarter drive with 1:06 remaining in the half. The run game never got going and was virtually nonexistent in the second quarter with 6 yards on five attempts.
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Ohio State’s lack of offensive production helped Oregon possess the ball for 9:40 in the second quarter, but the defense also played a role in the Ducks’ prolonged drives. Oregon posted 178 yards, two touchdowns and a field goal across 30 second-quarter plays to take an 17-14 lead.
Fahey had a rougher outing compared to his first start, completing just 36 of 50 passes for 360 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception against Oregon.
Arguably the most notable aspect of Fahey’s game was his lack of targets to wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. After throwing to Smith four times for three completions, including a 32-yard connection, Fahey had zero attempts to the Heisman candidate until there was 6:37 left in the third quarter.
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Smith finished with seven catches on nine targets for 133 yards and a touchdown, while wide receiver Devin McCuin had nine catches on 13 targets for 84 yards.
Just like in the USC loss, the Buckeyes struggled to contain Oregon’s big plays. The Ducks created nine passing plays of over 15 yards.
Ohio State could barely stop Oregon’s running game as well, giving up 113 rushing yards and a 48-yard touchdown by running back Dierre Hill Jr., who managed to leave behind three Buckeye defenders on that run.
Ohio State’s defense was two dropped interceptions away from possibly contributing to the early 14-0 lead and avoiding the second-quarter collapse.
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Nickel back Jay Timmons made an immediate impact after missing the USC loss, notching two tackles and nearly had his first-career interception during the first two Oregon drives. The freshman had a clear path to the end zone if he held onto quarterback Dylan Raiola’s 1-yard pass.
But safety Jaylen McClain letting an interception fall through his hands on Oregon’s third-and-9 with just over 2 minutes left in the second quarter proved to be even more significant. McClain’s failed interception allowed the Ducks to keep the drive alive with a fake punt on fourth down and eventually score their first touchdown.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football outplayed after one quarter; Jeremiah Smith not a factor
