The Buckeyes fell 41-28 to No. 23 Oregon after blowing an early 14-0 lead, dropping to 6-3 and out of the playoff picture.
Ohio State's season is unraveling fast. The Buckeyes entered Saturday ranked No. 12 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings, just outside the field, and left with a 41-28 home loss to No. 23 Oregon that all but ends their playoff hopes. Ohio State jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter before surrendering 38 unanswered points.
It is the second straight regular-season loss for Ohio State, following a 30-18 defeat to USC the week before. That is the first time the Buckeyes have lost back-to-back regular-season games since November 2011, and the first time they have carried at least three losses in a regular season since that year as well.
The fallout showed up in Sunday's AP poll, where Ohio State dropped to No. 21, its lowest ranking since September 21, 2014, when the Buckeyes were No. 22 and went on to win the national title that year. It also marks Ohio State's first November outside the AP Top 20 since 2011.
Rival Michigan did not fare much better, falling at home as a favorite and landing at 5-4 overall. Both programs now face uphill climbs just as the season reaches its most important stretch.