tribtoday
Ohio State football has now matched its highest single-season loss total during Ryan Day's eight seasons at the helm, following a 30-18 defeat at USC on Saturday night. The two-loss mark is rare in Columbus, and the fact that both losses occurred in the regular season adds another layer of concern.
While Day has led the Buckeyes since 2019, the streak of seasons with two or fewer losses actually dates back to 2011, when the team was hit hard by NCAA suspensions and Luke Fickell served as interim head coach for one season between College Football Hall of Famers Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer. After a 6-7 campaign that year, Fickell returned to his defensive coordinator role under Meyer, and the winning ways resumed.
Meyer never lost more than two games in his seven seasons as head coach, and Tressel did so only three times in 10 years, including his first season in 2001. Two regular-season losses are even more unusual: this marks the fourth time in the last 15 seasons and only the 10th in the last 25 years. Losing two games before November 1 is rarer still, having occurred only once since 2011 (this year) and six times in the past 25 years.
That context explains why Day was not merely being rhetorical when he said: "We're not allowed to lose games, and when that happens there's consequences. That's just the way it is, and if you don't like it, then don't come to Ohio State."
The Buckeyes' latest setback included a new face at quarterback in freshman Luke Fahey and several issues that have plagued Ohio State all season. The offense moved the ball but struggled to finish drives, and special teams were a problem as a long punt return set up one of USC's touchdowns. The offensive line cleared the way for more than 200 rushing yards, but Fahey faced heavy pressure most of the night when the Buckeyes wanted to pass.
Those issues dominated the conversation Tuesday as Day and the Buckeyes began preparations for a visit from Oregon on Saturday afternoon at Ohio Stadium. Day said he was "not in the frame of mind" to make staff changes, but everything is up for examination this week with the 11th-ranked Buckeyes still controlling their destiny for the Big Ten championship game but potentially out of mulligans when it comes to making the College Football Playoff.
"When I go back through the scheme, there are definitely some plays on both sides of the ball that I think schematically we can do better -- there are," Day said. "But it's not an overall issue that we're like running bad plays or we're running bad defense. I don't see that as a major problem. There's always things we can do better -- certainly recognize that -- but to me, we have to coach it better. We got to coach it better, and that starts right here, but then it goes to the coordinators, and then it goes to position coaches."
Day did not absolve the players, either, especially after the Buckeyes were called for 11 penalties at USC. "There's a certain level of accountability for these guys that they're expected to do their job at a high level, but that's the way that I'm approaching this week," Day said. "We all have to coach this better and take responsibility as a player, and that's the way that I've evaluated it coming out of the USC game."
Key Analysis
Ohio State's loss to USC has exposed recurring issues that now demand immediate attention. The Buckeyes' inability to finish drives and their special teams breakdowns have been consistent problems throughout the season, and the pressure on freshman quarterback Luke Fahey highlighted concerns along the offensive line. With a crucial matchup against Oregon looming, Day's call for better coaching and player accountability underscores the urgency of the situation. While the team still controls its own destiny in the Big Ten race, the margin for error in the College Football Playoff hunt is shrinking, making this week of evaluation critical for Ohio State's championship aspirations.
Originally reported by tribtoday.