The Buckeyes have dropped back-to-back games to USC and Oregon, putting their Big Ten title and playoff hopes in serious jeopardy.
Ryan Day is not blowing things up at quarterback, even as Ohio State deals with its first regular-season losing streak in his eight years as head coach. The coach said this week he is sticking with Luke Fahey as the Buckeyes try to regroup with three games left on the schedule.
The skid has been ugly. Ohio State, ranked No. 2 at the time, lost at Southern California 30-18, then followed it up with a 41-28 home loss to Oregon that saw the team give up 38 unanswered points at one stretch. The once-top-ranked Buckeyes fell 10 spots in the AP poll and now sit at No. 21.
At 6-3 overall and 4-2 in Big Ten play, Ohio State is tied for third in the conference standings with five other teams, leaving its hopes of reaching the Big Ten Championship Game very much in doubt. The College Football Playoff picture is just as shaky. Day acknowledged anger and frustration around the program but said he is not ready to shift focus away from the final stretch of the regular season.
The Buckeyes have not lost back-to-back games by double digits since 2004, and this marks their first three-loss season since 2011.