College Football: Oregon Beats Ohio State 41-28

Oregon defeated Ohio State 41-28 on Saturday to end the Buckeyes' long run of consistent performance.

The loss marks the second straight regular season defeat for Ohio State, a feat the team has not accomplished since November 2011. This result likely removes the Buckeyes from the College Football Playoff race, following a 30-18 road loss to No. 20 USC the previous week. The two defeats represent the first time Ohio State has lost back to back regular season games in 5,467 days and 169 matches.

The program had finished with two or fewer losses in 14 straight seasons prior to this stretch. That record tied Ohio State with Florida State and Notre Dame for the longest such streak in the AP poll era, which began in 1936. The current slump breaks a historical pattern of resilience, as the team previously responded to a 24-23 loss at Texas with a 59-3 victory over Kent State.

Head coach Ryan Day, who took over in December 2018, entered the game with a 5-3 record following a defeat. Since the last time Ohio State lost two consecutive regular season games, the team compiled a 171-24 record. That mark stands as the second most wins for any college football program since the 2012 season, accompanied by an 87.7% win percentage that leads all active teams.

The scoring margins in these two losses highlight the defensive struggles. Both defeats came by double digit margins, a first for the program in consecutive games since 2004. Ohio State has only lost three straight games by at least 10 points twice in its entire history. The team now prepares to host Northwestern next week.

A pivotal moment occurred late in the second quarter when Oregon executed a successful fake punt. Facing fourth and nine at their own 31 yard line, the Ducks brought out their punt team. Linebacker Teitum Tuioti caught the snap and threw a jump pass to Matayo Uiagalelei, who ran the ball 30 yards for a first down.

Following that play, Oregon outgained Ohio State 288 to 47 until 12:51 remained in the fourth quarter. At that point, the Ducks led 38-14. The Buckeyes had held a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and had won 140 consecutive home games when leading by at least 14 points. Their last home loss with such a lead occurred against Wisconsin in 2001.

The defense allowed 41 points at home, marking the second most points surrendered by a Day coached team in that venue. It was only the second home game since 2000 in which Ohio State gave up 40 points. The 41 points allowed followed a 30 point performance by USC, ending a streak of 31 games in which the Buckeyes held opponents to fewer than 30 points. The 38 unanswered points scored by Oregon stand as the fifth most consecutive points allowed at Ohio Stadium since the venue opened in 1922.