With just over three minutes left in the first half on Saturday at the Horseshoe, No. 12 Ohio State led 14-3, and their freshman quarterback, Luke Fahey, was skillfully distributing the ball in his second game as a starter.
However, despite their struggles, the No. 23 Oregon Ducks, previously thought to be in a national championship race, showed determination in Columbus, refusing to concede.
Facing a fourth-and-9 from their own 31-yard line, they executed a trick play with a fake punt that resulted in a 30-yard gain, igniting a 70-yard touchdown drive. Shortly after, a toe-tapping interception prepared the groundwork for yet another Oregon touchdown, which emerged from a strategic goal-line battle. The Ducks triumphed in that critical back-and-forth moment with a unique tush push that hushed the Buckeyes crowd.
Dan Lanning’s Oregon (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten) turned the tide of the game with an aggressive mindset, taking the fight to Ryan Day’s Ohio State.
Oregon’s Dan Lanning executed an impressive coaching performance at Ohio Stadium on Nov. 7, leading the Ducks to a 41-28 victory over Ohio State.
(AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
The Buckeyes (6-3, 4-2) couldn’t bounce back, facing a disheartening 41-28 loss that puts their College Football Playoff aspirations in jeopardy.
Additionally, this marks their first season with three or more losses since 2011, when they concluded the year with a 6-7 record under interim head coach Luke Fickell following the “Tattoogate” controversy, which led to Jim Tressel’s departure.
Ohio State has fallen from their No. 2 ranking in the AP Top 25 after a defeat against a then-unranked USC team in the previous week. They are now on a two-game losing streak, a first for the Buckeyes in the regular season since that turbulent 2011 season.
Going back to the end of the 2025 season, the Buckeyes have recorded an astonishing 4-5 in their last nine games against teams from power conferences. This past Saturday, their 12-game home winning streak, which was the longest active series in the Big Ten, came to an abrupt end.
Ohio State has struggled significantly in the absence of 2025 Heisman Trophy finalist Julian Sayin, who sustained a serious arm injury in a top-five matchup at Indiana on October 17.
Fahey, who had served as Sayin’s backup throughout the season, was chosen for the QB1 position over sophomore Tavien St. Clair, a former five-star recruit who held the distinction of being the No. 3 QB prospect in the 2025 class according to Rivals industry rankings. Fahey showed great effort in a 30-18 loss to USC.
This week, the Buckeyes opted to keep Fahey as the starter against Oregon, counting on the rest of the team to support the rookie quarterback. Initially, this strategy seemed successful against the Ducks.
Ohio State found the end zone during two of their first three possessions. Running back Bo Jackson dashed around the perimeter and scored from 16 yards out. His second touchdown was enabled by completions of 32-yards and 41-yards: the first being a deep throw to Jeremiah Smith and the second a short pass to wideout Devin McCuin that was turned into a significant gain.
Lanning made the decision to take the points early in the second quarter after his offense found some rhythm. On a fourth-and-2 at the Ohio State 15-yard line, he opted to bring in kicker Gage Hurych for a 33-yard field goal.
However, that decision was not an indicator of what was to come.
Later in the quarter, after Oregon quarterback Dylan Raiola narrowly avoided an interception from Ohio State safety Jaylen McClain, Lanning took a risk with his first bold call of the game.
Instead of punting the ball back to the Buckeyes and risking them extending their 11-point lead before halftime, Lanning went for a fake.
The snap went to Teitum Tuioti, who took off before tossing a jump pass to linebacker Matayo Uiagalelei. The towering 6-foot-5, 265-pound Uiagalelei leaped over a defender during his 30-yard gain, keeping the drive alive.
This set up running back Dierre Hill Jr.’s first of two rushing touchdowns. Additionally, it marked the start of the Ducks’ 38 unanswered points, a feat Ohio State had not experienced since a 1999 defeat against Wisconsin, as reported by CBS Sports.
Next, freshman Oregon defensive back Devin Jackson made an outstanding interception along the sideline, securing a wayward Fahey pass with a toe tap before stepping out of bounds with his left foot.
Almost immediately, Raiola guided the Ducks down the field while managing the clock. Instead of settling for a field goal on the final play of the first half, Lanning chose to gamble once more.
Oregon set up with just three offensive linemen, spreading the Buckeyes to both sides. Tight end Jamari Johnson dashed under center, received the snap, and powered forward, with Raiola providing help from behind.
This pivotal play right before halftime led the Ducks from a significant deficit to a lead of 17-14.
Moreover, they received the opening possession of the third quarter. They capitalized on this opportunity effectively, as Hill managed to dodge multiple defenders during a 48-yard touchdown run that raised significant concerns about the Buckeyes’ tackling skills.
This moment was particularly demoralizing for Ohio State. The Buckeyes struggled offensively in the remainder of the game, finding success only in garbage time when Fahey threw two touchdown passes.
One touchdown was caught by Smith, and the other was secured by tight end Nate Roberts. However, those points were merely superficial, making the score appear closer than the reality of the game.
When it truly mattered, Fahey exhibited the traits of a freshman. The Buckeyes turned the ball over on downs on four consecutive drives in the second half, with the first occasion involving the former three-star recruit throwing behind McCuin on a fourth-and-2.
In contrast, Raiola, still filling in for the injured Dante Moore, completed 25 of 40 passes for 257 yards and two touchdowns. A spectacular one-handed touchdown catch by wideout Dakorien Moore impressed many, while a screen pass allowed running back Brandon Smith to score the Ducks’ final touchdown.
Oregon and Ohio State are moving in contrasting directions currently. Both were expected to be contenders for the national title at the start of the season but have faced significant quarterback injuries.
Nonetheless, the recent attitude from the Ducks has shown resilience despite their midseason hurdles.
