Ohio State Falls to USC, Drops to Sixth

Ohio State's football team lost 30-18 to the USC Trojans at LA Memorial Coliseum, a result that has left the Buckeyes with two losses on the season for the first time since 2011.

The defeat dropped Ohio State from the No. 2 position in the country to No. 11 in the AP Top 25 poll. This marks the first time since 2021 that the Buckeyes have finished a game outside the top 10. With four regular-season games remaining, the team's path to the College Football Playoff has become uncertain, as no 9-3 team has ever secured an at-large bid even after the field expanded to 12 participants in 2024.

Quarterback Julian Sayin, who is out indefinitely, missed the game as Luke Fahey made his first career start. Fahey completed passes for 260 yards and one touchdown. Head coach Ryan Day said the offensive line struggled to protect Fahey, citing large drops and missed blocks. Day stated, “He competed, and wasn't perfect, but we had some big, huge drops, and we weren't able to help him down there.” Tight end Mason Williams added, “Our backs are against the wall; we have two losses, and that's something that we're gonna have to fight back against.”

The Buckeyes' remaining schedule features four opponents with winning records. Ohio State travels to face the 5-3 Oregon Ducks this Saturday. The Ducks recently defeated No. 20 Northwestern. Ohio State will then host Northwestern on Nov. 14, play 5-3 Nebraska on the road, and finish the season at home against 5-3 Michigan.

UCLA is the only unbeaten team in Big Ten conference play. Ohio State and Indiana each have one conference loss, but the Buckeyes hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Hoosiers. This advantage keeps Ohio State in control of its position regarding the Big Ten Championship Game. Under Ryan Day's tenure, the program has recorded two regular-season losses in two seasons, including the 2024 National Championship team.

Offensive lineman Austin Siereveld emphasized the need for continued effort as the team prepares for its next match. “We just got to keep fighting and keep swinging,” Siereveld said.