النص الكامل لحلقة Buckeye Central: Ohio State loses to USC in horrific fashion

00:03:55.960 they're going to have a chance to make a really 72 00:03:56.000 --> 00:04:00.280 good run into the college football playoff. But now that 73 00:04:00.430 --> 00:04:03.870 climb is a very uphill climb, and you've got to 74 00:04:03.909 --> 00:04:06.090 win out to get in the college football playoff, or 75 00:04:06.110 --> 00:04:08.090 you've got to get real lucky, and a lot of 76 00:04:08.110 --> 00:04:10.129 other teams have got to lose if you lose one more. 77 00:04:11.520 --> 00:04:14.680 The idea that Ohio State controls its own destiny, yes, 78 00:04:15.219 --> 00:04:18.360 but that road is not easy. And they're going to 79 00:04:18.399 --> 00:04:19.899 have to go out there and beat four good teams 80 00:04:19.939 --> 00:04:24.139 in a row, four good defenses in a row. So 81 00:04:25.879 --> 00:04:29.170 I'm not feeling great on this, what is it, Sunday 82 00:04:29.790 --> 00:04:32.370 afternoon as we're recording, and this will go out Monday morning. 83 00:04:32.470 --> 00:04:34.769 So not feeling great right now, but maybe we talk 84 00:04:34.790 --> 00:04:37.069 through some things. I let it out. Maybe we feel better, 85 00:04:37.110 --> 00:04:38.410 but I don't know. We'll see. 86 00:04:39.970 --> 00:04:42.089 Not right now. I'm going to bring up some haunting 87 00:04:42.129 --> 00:04:46.110 stuff just because I feel like it's necessary. Ohio State 88 00:04:46.129 --> 00:04:49.589 had 10 more first downs than USC. They were better 89 00:04:49.629 --> 00:04:52.769 on third down. They outgained USC by 126 yards. They 90 00:04:52.810 --> 00:04:56.829 had more passing yards. They had more rushing yards. They 91 00:04:56.870 --> 00:04:59.759 had the same amount of turnover, so no one lost 92 00:04:59.779 --> 00:05:02.680 the turnover battle. And Ohio State had the ball for 93 00:05:02.680 --> 00:05:05.459 40 minutes. If I would have told you that on 94 00:05:05.519 --> 00:05:10.350 Friday night and hit the score– you and everyone else, 95 00:05:10.449 --> 00:05:13.790 including USC fans, including Lincoln Riley, would have probably said, yeah, 96 00:05:14.370 --> 00:05:17.920 we got whooped. Ohio State just came in there and 97 00:05:17.939 --> 00:05:20.800 took our lunch money. It wasn't that at all. Ohio 98 00:05:20.819 --> 00:05:23.720 State won the game overall on paper, at least, but 99 00:05:23.740 --> 00:05:30.860 the margins, man. USC in crunch time, it seemed like they, 100 00:05:31.040 --> 00:05:33.110 even though they weren't great on third down, four for 10, 101 00:05:33.110 --> 00:05:35.910 it seemed like they always got that third down conversion. 102 00:05:36.649 --> 00:05:38.449 They always got the third down conversion. They always hit 103 00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:41.040 the chunk play when they needed it, second play of 104 00:05:41.060 --> 00:05:44.459 the game to Trent Mosley. Jay Timmons was a big 105 00:05:44.500 --> 00:05:48.889 loss solely for that play. And then for Mark Bowman, 106 00:05:49.329 --> 00:05:51.230 that's probably going to be SC's number one play of 107 00:05:51.250 --> 00:05:56.970 the week. My goodness, man. And with special teams, people 108 00:05:57.329 --> 00:06:00.329 may not give it its credit because it is special teams. 109 00:06:00.730 --> 00:06:03.560 I think that played a huge factor in the game 110 00:06:03.839 --> 00:06:08.610 last night. Joe McGuire did, to be frank, Terrible job 111 00:06:08.629 --> 00:06:13.730 pinning USC deep. Would it have changed with the defense 112 00:06:14.500 --> 00:06:17.920 playing as poorly as it did? I don't know. But 113 00:06:17.959 --> 00:06:21.439 you got to believe that better special team to execute 114 00:06:21.459 --> 00:06:22.079 made a difference. 115 00:06:24.519 --> 00:06:28.670 Yeah, I just– overall, man, I just don't like the 116 00:06:28.829 --> 00:06:31.110 effort and urgency. I'm going to go back to that because, like, 117 00:06:31.269 --> 00:06:34.569 it just felt like that team gave up early. You know, 118 00:06:34.649 --> 00:06:38.189 after that second play that they go– House calls for 119 00:06:38.290 --> 00:06:40.750 a touchdown. USC had the momentum right then and there. 120 00:06:41.589 --> 00:06:43.449 And they just felt like they kept the momentum the 121 00:06:43.490 --> 00:06:45.910 whole game. And when Ohio State would try to climb 122 00:06:45.949 --> 00:06:49.389 back something else, USC would respond and keep that momentum. 123 00:06:50.230 --> 00:06:52.290 So it just never felt like they could end up 124 00:06:52.329 --> 00:06:54.870 getting it. Because Ohio State, let's be frank, they made 125 00:06:54.910 --> 00:06:58.149 some good drives in the first half. It's just when 126 00:06:58.230 --> 00:07:01.139 every drive you go ends up in the red zone 127 00:07:01.199 --> 00:07:03.360 and you end up with a field goal. Guess what? 128 00:07:03.449 --> 00:07:05.399 USC is going to feel like they won that drive. 129 00:07:05.759 --> 00:07:07.180 You were able to drive almost the length of the 130 00:07:07.220 --> 00:07:09.620 field and then force you into a field goal. Some 131 00:07:09.639 --> 00:07:11.079 of the play calling down in the red zone just 132 00:07:11.100 --> 00:07:14.120 doesn't make sense. Some of the urgency doesn't make sense. 133 00:07:15.160 --> 00:07:18.259 When you're down three scores, you're going to have to 134 00:07:18.290 --> 00:07:20.089 play with some urgency and get to the line of 135 00:07:20.110 --> 00:07:22.610 scrimmage and not take 40 seconds in between each play. 136 00:07:23.829 --> 00:07:26.089 That's why you're winning time of possession. It's not a 137 00:07:26.129 --> 00:07:28.709 good thing you won time of possession down three scores. 138 00:07:29.329 --> 00:07:31.720 You should be playing with some urgency. When you're down 139 00:07:31.759 --> 00:07:34.120 three scores or seven minutes left, let's go out there 140 00:07:34.139 --> 00:07:36.300 and move the ball quickly, not take a five-minute drive 141

00:07:36.639 --> 00:07:39.639 to be possibly down eight points, but instead you go 142 00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:41.699 down nine points because you go for two. Some of 143 00:07:42.360 --> 00:07:47.170 the play calling, it was awkward. Some of the defensive 144 00:07:47.189 --> 00:07:49.870 play calling at times was awkward. They got to find 145 00:07:49.889 --> 00:07:51.750 a way to get pressure, so they're bringing more guys. 146 00:07:51.810 --> 00:07:54.389 Because they're bringing more guys and still not getting there, 147 00:07:54.689 --> 00:07:57.300 they're getting caught in the back end. It's just How 148 00:07:57.319 --> 00:08:00.319 do we find a way to make this team play 149 00:08:00.339 --> 00:08:06.060 with the effort and relentlessness that they've done earlier in 150 00:08:06.079 --> 00:08:08.680 the year? And that team just did not show up 151 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:12.139 one bit against USC. And I've been saying this for 152 00:08:12.180 --> 00:08:15.519 a long time, too. I think Ryan Day, under his 153 00:08:15.639 --> 00:08:18.029 era at Ohio State, has done a good job of 154 00:08:18.170 --> 00:08:21.089 showing up each and every week and the consistency each 155 00:08:21.110 --> 00:08:24.670 and every week that they play to the same standard. 156 00:08:25.439 --> 00:08:27.860 And you don't really see the drop-offs. I commented on 157 00:08:27.879 --> 00:08:30.000 that last week on our podcast, and I'm like, even 158 00:08:30.019 --> 00:08:32.039 with a new quarterback, I feel like we'll still see that. 159 00:08:32.379 --> 00:08:36.149 This is the first time, really, outside of that Michigan 160 00:08:36.169 --> 00:08:42.429 game in 2024, the National Championship team. That's really what 161 00:08:42.470 --> 00:08:45.789 that game compares to. What is this team? This is 162 00:08:45.840 --> 00:08:47.679 not the team that we've seen all year, even the 163 00:08:47.720 --> 00:08:50.720 Texas game, even the fourth quarter Texas game. We didn't 164 00:08:50.759 --> 00:08:53.429 see this team. Why do we see this team for 165 00:08:53.590 --> 00:08:56.169 four quarters? That doesn't make sense at all. You see 166 00:08:56.220 --> 00:08:59.159 the frustration on the sidelines by certain players, too. Like, 167 00:08:59.879 --> 00:09:02.679 there's nothing. I can't even put it into words, really, 168 00:09:03.059 --> 00:09:05.600 of how this feels for Ohio State fans. And I 169 00:09:05.639 --> 00:09:08.440 put out a tweet right after the game, and I'm 170 00:09:08.539 --> 00:09:12.639 always the optimistic and, you know, Glaff has full type, 171 00:09:12.940 --> 00:09:15.620 and I don't ever overreact. I feel like I don't 172 00:09:15.639 --> 00:09:18.580 know if this team makes the playoffs. Like, they look 173 00:09:18.639 --> 00:09:22.960 that bad of... if that team shows up even one 174 00:09:22.980 --> 00:09:24.919 more time in the next four weeks, they're going to 175 00:09:24.940 --> 00:09:27.059 get beat by any one of those

four teams left 176 00:09:27.100 --> 00:09:29.879 on their schedule. I think that's a real possibility. They're 177 00:09:29.899 --> 00:09:31.960 going to have an uphill battle. They got to play 178 00:09:32.059 --> 00:09:34.720 Oregon Northwestern at home these next two weeks, and that's 179 00:09:34.740 --> 00:09:38.139 not going to be two easy games. Nebraska at Nebraska, 180 00:09:38.179 --> 00:09:39.720 that's a tough place to play at. And then, obviously, 181 00:09:39.740 --> 00:09:42.440 the rivalry game. Michigan's got a great defense still. Are 182 00:09:42.460 --> 00:09:44.659 they figuring out an offense? I don't know if that's 183 00:09:44.679 --> 00:09:47.039 the case, but that's one of those games where their 184 00:09:47.080 --> 00:09:48.899 worst team in the last 10 years beat our best 185 00:09:48.940 --> 00:09:50.570 team in the last 10 years. So, like, you can't 186 00:09:50.610 --> 00:09:52.580 really throw that under the bus of like, yeah, we're 187 00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:55.639 going to kill Michigan. It's just not what it is 188 00:09:55.659 --> 00:09:58.450 in that game ever. So to go four and over 189 00:09:58.470 --> 00:10:00.250 the next four weeks is going to be really, hard 190 00:10:00.269 --> 00:10:03.389 for Ohio State. If they get anything like that effort 191 00:10:04.269 --> 00:10:06.840 that they had in that USC game, they're going to 192 00:10:06.860 --> 00:10:07.779 lose one game for sure. 193 00:10:08.940 --> 00:10:11.559 The effort is– the reason why it's so concerning to me, 194 00:10:12.120 --> 00:10:14.580 obviously you never want to play with a lack of effort. 195 00:10:15.419 --> 00:10:18.730 But when you look at the roster, especially the defensive side, 196 00:10:19.889 --> 00:10:24.529 Kenyatta Jackson, Edrick Houston, Earl Little, Jalen McClain, Jermaine Matthews, 197 00:10:24.850 --> 00:10:31.440 Peyton Pierce, who else am I missing? Zion Grady, Quay Rousaw, 198 00:10:31.639 --> 00:10:36.860 John Walker, all veteran guys. This is a veteran-led team. 199 00:10:37.480 --> 00:10:39.840 I understand maybe not to the extent of the last 200 00:10:39.899 --> 00:10:41.919 two years at Ohio State, but there's a lot of 201 00:10:41.950 --> 00:10:45.269 veterans in this team. And when you have shown a 202 00:10:45.309 --> 00:10:47.879 lack of effort, Really throughout the season, I think you 203 00:10:47.919 --> 00:10:50.240 saw it defensively against Illinois. This is a very comparable 204 00:10:50.259 --> 00:10:54.220 game to the Illinois contest, except in this one, USC 205 00:10:54.240 --> 00:10:56.399 took advantage of their red zone opportunities. They scored 20 206 00:10:56.399 --> 00:10:58.500 points in the red zone, went four for four, did 207 00:10:58.519 --> 00:11:01.600 a good job. But the lack of effort by the veterans, dude, 208 00:11:02.960 --> 00:11:06.059 it's an issue. I will say this. I have no 209 00:11:06.120 --> 00:11:12.269 issue with some of the guys getting rowdy on the sideline. 210

00:11:12.289 --> 00:11:14.250 I'll put it that way. I'm sure we've all seen 211 00:11:14.269 --> 00:11:17.980 the video of Jermaine Matthews Jr., Jeremiah Smith, obviously looking frustrated. 212 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:20.919 I have no problem with that whatsoever. If you're not 213 00:11:21.139 --> 00:11:25.909 acting like that, it means you don't care. Some people 214 00:11:25.950 --> 00:11:31.350 show it differently, but number four and number seven, those 215 00:11:31.389 --> 00:11:34.429 dudes came to play yesterday. They came to play. Luke Fahey, 216 00:11:34.549 --> 00:11:37.350 I feel like, came to play. Speaking of which, it's 217 00:11:37.389 --> 00:11:40.070 not his fault. So many fans joined the post-game show 218 00:11:40.129 --> 00:11:42.009 last night, and so many fans posted on social media 219 00:11:42.029 --> 00:11:44.320 saying it was his fault. It's not his fault. You 220 00:11:44.340 --> 00:11:46.039 could have put Julian Sane in that game, and they 221 00:11:46.080 --> 00:11:46.779 still would not have won. 222 00:11:47.399 --> 00:11:50.299 They wouldn't have. A bunch of people text me that 223 00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:52.820 are fans of different teams, and they're like, yeah, Luke Fahey, 224 00:11:53.370 --> 00:11:57.509 so bad, so but, whatever. I'm like, we had a 225 00:11:57.549 --> 00:12:02.470 true freshman quarterback come in in a scenario where everyone 226 00:12:02.509 --> 00:12:04.009 on the podium this last week is like, all right, 227 00:12:04.029 --> 00:12:05.250 we got to make sure we help our guy out. 228 00:12:05.340 --> 00:12:06.919 We got to help our guy out. We had procedural 229 00:12:06.960 --> 00:12:11.490 penalties that were not on Luke Fahey. constant false starts, 230 00:12:11.779 --> 00:12:16.850 constant illegal formations. Like, what are we doing? Wider Sears, 231 00:12:16.889 --> 00:12:18.129 when he puts the ball on him, yes, he had 232 00:12:18.149 --> 00:12:20.470 a couple of overthrows last night. I mean, that's, yes. 233 00:12:20.830 --> 00:12:24.710 I'm not shocked by that, though, either. But we put 234 00:12:24.730 --> 00:12:26.590 the ball on him two or three different times, and 235 00:12:26.610 --> 00:12:29.409 we have key third-down drops. Like, that would keep the 236 00:12:29.470 --> 00:12:31.250 drives going. Those would be big plays, and those would 237 00:12:31.269 --> 00:12:33.230 be like, oh, man, Luke Fahey had his moment there. 238 00:12:33.690 --> 00:12:36.610 But no, like, just because Wider Sears dropped the ball, 239 00:12:36.669 --> 00:12:39.259 now it's like, oh, Luke Fahey's bad. That's not the 240 00:12:39.299 --> 00:12:43.720 case at all. The offensive line, I think, had its 241 00:12:43.779 --> 00:12:47.019 worst pass-blocking game of all time, and there was two 242 00:12:47.090 --> 00:12:50.950 sacks last night. Two sacks. He was able to evade 243 00:12:50.970 --> 00:12:53.169 the pocket. Yes, he didn't make the best decisions once 244 00:12:53.190 --> 00:12:55.250

he got out of the pocket sometimes, but he was 245 00:12:55.269 --> 00:12:56.870 able to evade the pocket. He picked up a first 246 00:12:56.889 --> 00:12:59.340 down with his legs one time, extending plays and throwing 247 00:12:59.360 --> 00:13:02.360 the ball downfield a couple times, finding the tight end 248 00:13:03.240 --> 00:13:06.990 for a big third-down conversion. Like, those are growth plays 249 00:13:07.029 --> 00:13:09.690 that you don't see true freshmen usually make. And I 250 00:13:09.690 --> 00:13:12.470 think that's a big deal. Like, yes, there was only 251 00:13:12.509 --> 00:13:14.590 two sacks last night, so people might say the offensive 252 00:13:14.610 --> 00:13:18.490 line didn't play that bad. They played terrible, terrible pass blocking. 253 00:13:19.929 --> 00:13:23.509 And speaking on the offensive line, yeah, people can say, well, 254 00:13:23.629 --> 00:13:25.710 they ran the ball for so much yards. Like, the 255 00:13:25.730 --> 00:13:28.570 running backs look better. We played against a really bad 256 00:13:28.649 --> 00:13:31.149 run defense. I think they were in the hundreds or 257 00:13:31.269 --> 00:13:33.809 almost the hundreds in run defense this year, up until 258 00:13:33.830 --> 00:13:37.870 this year. Wisconsin beat them with 58 passing yards. The 259 00:13:37.889 --> 00:13:40.649 way they ran the ball all over them, if Wisconsin 260 00:13:40.669 --> 00:13:42.500 can run the ball over them, I hope Ohio State 261 00:13:42.519 --> 00:13:45.860 can have their best rushing attack against a really bad 262 00:13:45.919 --> 00:13:48.159 run defense. I mean, that's what it comes down to. 263 00:13:48.200 --> 00:13:52.259 I'm sorry to go ballistic on the offensive line and 264 00:13:52.299 --> 00:13:56.019 everything like that, but the rest of the team played really, 265 00:13:56.120 --> 00:14:00.370 really bad against a team that they should not have 266 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:03.029 played bad. This should have been a game that they 267 00:14:03.049 --> 00:14:05.179 showed up for because they won this game they were 268 00:14:05.419 --> 00:14:07.700 going to be sitting in a really good position going 269 00:14:07.720 --> 00:14:09.379 through the last four games knowing they had a game 270 00:14:09.399 --> 00:14:11.639 to lose still. Now they don't have a game to lose. 271 00:14:12.279 --> 00:14:15.070 They still control their own destiny, yes, but that climb 272 00:14:15.110 --> 00:14:16.929 is going to be so much harder to do. And 273 00:14:16.950 --> 00:14:19.070 when you see effort like that from, like you said, 274 00:14:19.149 --> 00:14:23.370 veteran guys, that's really hard for an analyst to see 275 00:14:23.409 --> 00:14:26.710 and think, wow, what is... What's going on in the 276 00:14:26.750 --> 00:14:29.450 locker room? What's going on down there? Do they not 277 00:14:29.490 --> 00:14:31.210 agree with some of the coaching styles? Do they not 278 00:14:31.230 --> 00:14:34.690 agree with personnel styles? What's going on down there? Because 279 00:14:34.870 --> 00:14:39.700 the lack of effort is really, really worrisome to watch. 280 00:14:42.460 --> 00:14:43.559 I think you hit the nail on the head with 281 00:14:44.419 --> 00:14:46.919 especially the running game. Everyone's going to look at that 282 00:14:46.940 --> 00:14:51.259 and say 204 yards, great. You rewatched the game this 283 00:14:51.299 --> 00:14:53.659 morning as we're filming this. I feel like a good 284 00:14:53.700 --> 00:14:57.620 portion of those runs, Well, yes, there were holes opened up. 285 00:14:58.529 --> 00:15:00.480 Isaiah West or Bo Jackson got hit like two yards 286 00:15:00.509 --> 00:15:02.200 past the line of scrimmage and then carried you guys. 287 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:05.299 There were very, very few runs where it's like, hey, 288 00:15:05.320 --> 00:15:07.279 they opened up like a big lane and dude hit 289 00:15:07.299 --> 00:15:10.559 it and went. I can't find the number on stat broadcast. 290 00:15:10.580 --> 00:15:13.169 I'll have to look at PFF later. But there had 291 00:15:13.190 --> 00:15:16.970 to have been at least 100 yards after contact, at least. 292 00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:20.809 It's probably around that range. But I will say Bo 293 00:15:20.850 --> 00:15:23.710 Jackson played really soft in the first half and definitely 294 00:15:23.750 --> 00:15:25.409 answered the bell and came out and played a lot 295 00:15:25.429 --> 00:15:27.690 harder in the second half. So I will say props 296 00:15:27.730 --> 00:15:29.809 to him for picking it up. I think he had 297 00:15:29.850 --> 00:15:31.779 to with how good Isaiah West ran the ball in 298 00:15:31.820 --> 00:15:34.659 that first half. It got to a point where I 299 00:15:34.700 --> 00:15:37.100 was like, all right, why would you ever take Isaiah 300 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:41.820 West off the field? Because he's consistently running for five, 301 00:15:41.899 --> 00:15:44.019 six yards a carry when he shouldn't be getting one. 302 00:15:44.909 --> 00:15:46.950 at times, or he was breaking out the– he had 303 00:15:46.990 --> 00:15:49.740 those two long runs back-to-back, 10 and 12 yards back-to-back 304 00:15:49.799 --> 00:15:52.860 in the first half. Like, all right, keep feeding this guy. Like, 305 00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:54.960 he's running with a purpose when Bo Jackson just wasn't 306 00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:57.460 to start the game. But props to him for figuring 307 00:15:57.500 --> 00:16:01.220 it out and trying to help out his young quarterback 308 00:16:01.240 --> 00:16:03.259 at the end of the day and play much better 309 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:06.570 in the second half. But I don't know, man. Like, 310 00:16:06.629 --> 00:16:11.029 it's– Bo Jackson also had a really bad drop as 311 00:16:11.090 --> 00:16:14.330 well when that would have been a walk-in touchdown. Um, 312 00:16:14.470 --> 00:16:17.409 so it's, it's, and that was another key third down 313 00:16:17.450 --> 00:16:18.789

that we ended up kicking a field goal. So like, 314 00:16:19.710 --> 00:16:22.870 it's just like, I don't think there was a single 315 00:16:22.909 --> 00:16:26.389 person out there that really had that great of a game. 316 00:16:27.269 --> 00:16:30.340 And that's, I don't think, I don't think that's crazy 317 00:16:30.379 --> 00:16:33.279 to say either. Like you were terrible in the red 318 00:16:33.320 --> 00:16:35.600 zone and you weren't efficient at all. Um, and it 319 00:16:35.639 --> 00:16:38.580 had to go down there, kick field goals. Like you 320 00:16:38.620 --> 00:16:40.639 got what you, like if, if you told me the 321 00:16:40.679 --> 00:16:42.139 game that you got out of Luke Fahey last night, 322 00:16:43.399 --> 00:16:45.379 If you told me he threw 38 passes, I'm like, 323 00:16:45.460 --> 00:16:46.720 what in the world are we doing? Why is he 324 00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:48.679 throwing the ball 38 times? It's because we were down, 325 00:16:48.980 --> 00:16:50.690 and we ended up having to throw the ball. Then 326 00:16:50.710 --> 00:16:53.809 the lack of urgency, and I just don't know what 327 00:16:53.830 --> 00:16:56.809 else to say besides this team did not show up 328 00:16:56.830 --> 00:17:00.549 to play last night, and not one player had a 329 00:17:00.590 --> 00:17:04.200 good game overall. No. 330 00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:07.579 Well, 38 pass attempts, 19 of that came in the 331 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:10.299 fourth quarter. I went back and forth with it on 332 00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:15.099 someone on Twitter last night. They agree with the running 333 00:17:15.119 --> 00:17:17.680 the clock in the third quarter, which I think– I'm sorry. 334 00:17:17.720 --> 00:17:19.779 I'll just be frank here. If you agree with running 335 00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:21.319 the ball and running the clock in the third quarter 336 00:17:21.339 --> 00:17:25.339 while down three touchdowns, you're an idiot. You're stupid. You 337 00:17:25.380 --> 00:17:27.539 don't know the game of football. You don't have any 338 00:17:27.579 --> 00:17:30.319 common sense about yourself. Running is fine. 339 00:17:30.779 --> 00:17:32.940 Quarterback too. Like you've got to get him in a 340 00:17:32.980 --> 00:17:36.339 position to win. And they just– like I hate to 341 00:17:36.380 --> 00:17:38.799 say it this way. Like before the week you talked 342 00:17:38.819 --> 00:17:41.009 about we can't put it all on Luke Fahey's shoulders. 343 00:17:41.069 --> 00:17:42.549 We've got to put him in a position to win. 344 00:17:43.470 --> 00:17:45.279 And we don't want him to have to– like, we 345 00:17:45.299 --> 00:17:46.559 want him to go out there and not lose the 346 00:17:46.579 --> 00:17:48.539 game for us. That's pretty much what they said. Well, 347 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:49.880 they never even gave him a chance to win the 348 00:17:49.900 --> 00:17:52.220 game for him either. Like, they didn't give him a 349 00:17:52.220 --> 00:17:53.339 chance to lose the game. They didn't even give him 350 00:17:53.359 --> 00:17:55.539 a chance to win the game. So, like, it's just 351 00:17:55.559 --> 00:17:57.759 so frustrating to go back even to watch it this morning. 352 00:17:57.799 --> 00:17:59.500 I think I just got more frustrated watching it back 353 00:17:59.539 --> 00:18:01.519 this morning than I even did watching it live. 354 00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:05.819 Well, it's because when you look at how it started, 355 00:18:06.660 --> 00:18:09.220 the first quarter, Luke Fahey was 6 for 8 for 356 00:18:09.220 --> 00:18:12.279 81 yards. You're like, okay. He had the interception that 357 00:18:12.299 --> 00:18:15.049 was overturned. But you're like, okay, like dude's showing some grit. 358 00:18:15.089 --> 00:18:17.009 Like he's got some swagger to him. He can push 359 00:18:17.029 --> 00:18:20.710 the ball down the field. Second quarter, two for seven. 360 00:18:21.150 --> 00:18:23.849 Not necessarily his fault. We talked about it before the show. 361 00:18:24.789 --> 00:18:29.150 Between the second and the third, he was five. And 362 00:18:29.369 --> 00:18:31.490 the majority of those came on third down where he 363 00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:34.019 was third and seven, third and six. Obvious passing situations. 364 00:18:34.940 --> 00:18:37.900 They did not put him in any positions to succeed. 365 00:18:39.490 --> 00:18:42.309 I think like another thing, another thing to think it too. 366 00:18:42.369 --> 00:18:43.869 Like if you would have told me the game that 367 00:18:43.890 --> 00:18:46.650 Luke Fahey had before, before the game started, I'd be like, 368 00:18:46.690 --> 00:18:49.109 Oh yeah, he missed a couple of throws. Yeah. Fully 369 00:18:49.150 --> 00:18:53.289 expected that. I wouldn't come out to think that Luke 370 00:18:53.309 --> 00:18:55.349 Fahey is the reason we met that game was lost. 371 00:18:55.529 --> 00:18:58.630 I think if anyone comes to that conclusion, then they 372 00:18:58.670 --> 00:19:01.440 don't know anything about football. Like I hate to like 373 00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:04.240 call them out that way. I hate using the word 374 00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:08.369 like casual, but like, Luke Fahey did not lose Ohio 375 00:19:08.390 --> 00:19:11.069 State that game. It was just a lack of total 376 00:19:11.109 --> 00:19:14.359 team effort and urgency by the play calling and the 377 00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:18.259 coaching staff. The defense did not tackle well at all, 378 00:19:18.940 --> 00:19:22.299 and that goes for everyone across the line, including Kenyatta Jackson, 379 00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:26.809 including Jalen McClain, including all the linebackers as well. That's 380 00:19:26.869 --> 00:19:29.849 a whole group unit that didn't tackle well. And they 381 00:19:29.890 --> 00:19:32.049 gave up big plays, and that's something that Ohio State 382 00:19:32.069 --> 00:19:35.390 hasn't done in the last two years. So that's not 383 00:19:35.430 --> 00:19:38.180 helping the true freshman

quarterback out, Wide receivers dropping key 384 00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:40.799 third-down passes. That's not helping the true freshman quarterback out. 385 00:19:41.140 --> 00:19:43.779 Offensive line having their worst pass-walking game. That's not helping 386 00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:46.210 the true freshman out. Having the most penalties in the 387 00:19:46.250 --> 00:19:49.269 game since 2023. That's not helping the true freshman quarterback out. 388 00:19:49.890 --> 00:19:52.920 You expected the rest of the team to pick up 389 00:19:52.940 --> 00:19:55.279 the slack when Julian goes out because you don't need 390 00:19:55.319 --> 00:19:57.700 a Heisman finalist back there to win the games. They 391 00:19:57.759 --> 00:19:59.819 proved last night they need a Heisman finalist back there 392 00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:03.859 to win games. If you need that, Luke Fahey's not 393 00:20:03.880 --> 00:20:05.779 going to be your guy as a true freshman unless 394 00:20:05.819 --> 00:20:08.559 he takes a massive leap, but you didn't think that 395 00:20:08.660 --> 00:20:11.869 you needed that. They needed that last night against USC. 396 00:20:11.910 --> 00:20:12.690 That's the sad part. 397 00:20:14.730 --> 00:20:17.730 One thing I do want to bring up, I'm sure 398 00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:21.579 you watched Ryan Day's press conference last night. Somebody asked 399 00:20:21.619 --> 00:20:26.359 him why the slow tempo in the second half. And typically, 400 00:20:26.839 --> 00:20:28.799 I agree with what he says. I think Ryan's a 401 00:20:28.819 --> 00:20:31.019 smart guy. Ryan's forgotten more about football than I'll ever know. 402 00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:35.059 But his answer to the tempo question was, we went 403 00:20:35.099 --> 00:20:38.210 three and out in the first drive, and then... And 404 00:20:38.569 --> 00:20:40.650 he essentially said the first drive come out of halftime 405 00:20:40.670 --> 00:20:42.720 where they went three out was the reason why they 406 00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:45.000 didn't go tempo. What are we doing? That was a 407 00:20:45.059 --> 00:20:47.759 two minute drive, two minutes and one second. Are you 408 00:20:47.799 --> 00:20:50.240 telling me that two minutes dictates the next 28 minutes 409 00:20:50.279 --> 00:20:51.500 of your entire offensive game plan? 410 00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:55.920 It was, it was interesting to say the least of 411 00:20:56.539 --> 00:20:58.910 they felt like they needed the long sustained drive. Cause 412 00:20:58.930 --> 00:21:01.849 that's where it sounds like that's where they, they think 413 00:21:01.930 --> 00:21:03.970 Luke is comfortable doing it that way. Cause then he 414 00:21:03.990 --> 00:21:06.619 can slow down and process it. And he's not, It 415 00:21:06.660 --> 00:21:09.549 sounds like getting Luke sped up is not good for 416 00:21:09.569 --> 00:21:11.809 the offense is what it came down to. And that's 417 00:21:11.829 --> 00:21:15.089 what it felt like watching it. But it comes down

418 00:21:15.109 --> 00:21:17.269 to it. You got to at least try. Like I'm 419 00:21:17.309 --> 00:21:19.009 at the point where I don't know if I don't 420 00:21:19.049 --> 00:21:20.309 care if Luke's ready for it or not. You got 421 00:21:20.329 --> 00:21:23.440 to try. You're down three scores in the middle of 422 00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:25.539 the third quarter. It can't get any worse. You're taking 423 00:21:25.579 --> 00:21:28.259 eight-minute drives. You can't do that. If you're going to 424 00:21:28.299 --> 00:21:30.210 do that two more times, guess what? USC is going 425 00:21:30.230 --> 00:21:32.349 to win by going three out the next two times 426 00:21:32.369 --> 00:21:34.109 they have the ball, and they don't care because you're 427 00:21:34.130 --> 00:21:36.390 taking eight-minute drives to drive the field against a really 428 00:21:36.450 --> 00:21:40.390 bad defense. Putting up 18 points against a defense like that, 429 00:21:41.660 --> 00:21:43.700 I'm not shocked at it. I thought they would score 20. 430 00:21:43.700 --> 00:21:45.819 I knew they'd be around that range. I was like, 431 00:21:45.960 --> 00:21:48.259 even with the backup quarterback, even if Luke Fahey played terrible, 432 00:21:48.599 --> 00:21:51.420 I thought they would score 20. I'm not shocked at 433 00:21:51.460 --> 00:21:53.640 all that they were around the 18-23 range. It's kind 434 00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:57.869 of where I expected them to be. But, again, it's 435 00:21:57.910 --> 00:22:01.390 not a great defense. So you can't go out there 436 00:22:01.890 --> 00:22:03.529 and go up 30 and expect to win either, though. 437 00:22:03.569 --> 00:22:06.029 So it's a whole team effort. I'm not saying it's 438 00:22:06.049 --> 00:22:07.589 just one unit or the other. I'm not saying it's 439 00:22:07.650 --> 00:22:10.380 offense or just defense. The whole team played bad. The 440 00:22:10.420 --> 00:22:13.000 coaches didn't coach their best game last night. I think 441 00:22:13.099 --> 00:22:15.019 everyone would agree to that. And let's move on to 442 00:22:15.400 --> 00:22:18.200 the Oregon game, and hopefully they can flip the script 443 00:22:18.220 --> 00:22:18.940 going into next week. 444 00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:22.099 We're going to do that, but real quick, I want 445 00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:25.319 to bring one more thing. I saw this on Twitter 446 00:22:25.339 --> 00:22:27.460 this morning. I went to check it. These are the 447 00:22:27.500 --> 00:22:30.160 lists of schools this season that have scored more points 448 00:22:30.299 --> 00:22:38.769 on USC than Ohio State did last night. San Jose State, Louisiana, Lafayette, Rutgers, Washington, 449 00:22:39.210 --> 00:22:40.910 Penn State, Wisconsin. 450 00:22:42.170 --> 00:22:43.829 How many did you name? How many was that? Was 451 00:22:43.869 --> 00:22:44.250 that six? 452 00:22:47.390 --> 00:22:47.490 Yep. 453 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:51.420 So there's only one more team that didn't score more 454 00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:58.980 than Ohio State. Who was that? That's more of the compelling. 455 00:22:59.849 --> 00:23:03.509 Fresno State got shut out, 39-0. Besides that, 26 to 456 00:23:03.549 --> 00:23:08.869 San Jose State, 30 to Louisiana Lafayette, 35 to Rutgers, 457 00:23:08.869 --> 00:23:12.869 41 to Oregon, which is not a shocker, 21 to Washington, 458 00:23:12.869 --> 00:23:16.069 23 to Penn State, and 24 to Wisconsin. And then 459 00:23:16.130 --> 00:23:19.549 Ohio State puts up 18 points. Yeah, I mean, that's 460 00:23:19.609 --> 00:23:22.839 just– And it's not on Fahey. The only guy that's 461 00:23:22.880 --> 00:23:26.500 hurt him offensively, Luke Fahey, Bo Jackson, Isaiah West, Jeremiah Smith. 462 00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:29.220 The rest of the guys were inconsistent at best. 463 00:23:30.599 --> 00:23:32.619 And I'm not even trying to say that Jeremiah Smith 464 00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:35.710 played bad either. Obviously, he was getting bracketed and held, 465 00:23:36.190 --> 00:23:38.930 and a lot of eyes were on him in serious 466 00:23:38.970 --> 00:23:42.230 moments for good reason. Like, he's a generational player, wide receiver. 467 00:23:42.670 --> 00:23:43.950 They got him the ball as much as they could 468 00:23:43.970 --> 00:23:45.980 probably get him the ball that night. Maybe they missed 469 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:49.190 him one time. I truly do think that. USC just 470 00:23:49.230 --> 00:23:51.829 put an emphasis on Jeremiah Smith's not going to beat us, 471 00:23:52.250 --> 00:23:54.529 even though they'll target him a lot. And he made 472 00:23:54.549 --> 00:23:58.650 some good catches. I mean, good for them for dialing 473 00:23:58.690 --> 00:24:00.369 up some plays to make sure Jeremiah gets the ball. 474 00:24:01.430 --> 00:24:04.190 I fully agree that the play calling to get Jeremiah 475 00:24:04.210 --> 00:24:07.490 the ball was good. I'm not ever going to downgrade 476 00:24:07.549 --> 00:24:10.680 or disregard that fact of it. It's just everyone else, 477 00:24:11.180 --> 00:24:15.210 getting everyone else involved, just felt weird and not like 478 00:24:15.349 --> 00:24:17.630 it wasn't something that luke was comfortable with all night 479 00:24:17.650 --> 00:24:22.140 and it just were when you're in a constant position 480 00:24:22.180 --> 00:24:25.200 of uncomfortable you shouldn't be that way in ohio state 481 00:24:25.259 --> 00:24:26.960 you should be able to be able to kind of 482 00:24:26.980 --> 00:24:28.720 dictate what you want to do on offense and they 483 00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:31.420 were not able to do that even though they they 484 00:24:31.440 --> 00:24:33.240 were able to gain so much yards but not finish 485 00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:35.000 off the drives at the same time like it doesn't 486 00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:37.220 make like it just doesn't make sense it doesn't make 487 00:24:37.259 --> 00:24:40.799 sense it's not going to make sense so on to 488 00:24:40.859 --> 00:24:43.579 oregon

and we go i guess and hopefully they learn 489 00:24:43.619 --> 00:24:45.240 how to score some points in the red zone this week. 490 00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:48.319 That's all you can do at this point. And this 491 00:24:48.380 --> 00:24:51.680 is how I look at most games, losses and wins. 492 00:24:52.500 --> 00:24:55.349 The day after, I'm a lot more calm because there's 493 00:24:55.369 --> 00:24:56.849 nothing you can do. You can't go back and change 494 00:24:57.150 --> 00:24:58.990 the outcome. The only thing you can do is go 495 00:24:59.009 --> 00:25:00.650 back to the drawing board and try to be better 496 00:25:00.670 --> 00:25:05.210 the next week. Oregon's coming in next week. And off 497 00:25:05.250 --> 00:25:08.930 a fresh comeback win over Northwestern, Dylan Ryla threw for 498 00:25:09.130 --> 00:25:13.470 over 330 with three touchdowns, no picks. Had an 83.6 QBR. 499 00:25:14.869 --> 00:25:16.509 That should scare you if you're Ohio State. If you 500 00:25:16.529 --> 00:25:19.410 put that kind of defensive performance and give that kind 501 00:25:19.430 --> 00:25:22.390 of effort you did against USC next weekend, Oregon's going 502 00:25:22.410 --> 00:25:24.420 to shred you. Oregon might drop a 40 bomb. 503 00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:27.759 And their defense is looking– I know they gave up 504 00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:30.519 a lot of points to the Northwestern. Their defense looked good. 505 00:25:31.460 --> 00:25:34.420 A lot better than it has in a couple weeks past. 506 00:25:35.799 --> 00:25:38.900 It was more so Chip Kelly dialing up some crazy looks. 507 00:25:39.269 --> 00:25:41.569 For Northwestern, I'm sure everyone's kind of seen that floating 508 00:25:41.609 --> 00:25:45.569 on Twitter the last couple days of certain plays and 509 00:25:45.670 --> 00:25:50.589 certain formations that Chip Kelly just dialed up crazy for Northwestern. 510 00:25:50.630 --> 00:25:54.549 And Aiden Childs looked great as well. But it's more 511 00:25:54.589 --> 00:25:58.410 so like this Oregon team as a whole. I think 512 00:25:58.430 --> 00:26:00.759 they have something to prove. And they're going to come 513 00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:04.420 into Columbus really ready and wanting this one bad. And 514 00:26:04.460 --> 00:26:07.730 if Ohio State doesn't wake up, they're going to be– 515 00:26:08.589 --> 00:26:11.750 three losses going into three games left, and that's not 516 00:26:11.789 --> 00:26:13.450 somewhere where you want to be, where you've got to 517 00:26:13.490 --> 00:26:15.839 go 3-0 in the last three weeks. Because that's the 518 00:26:15.859 --> 00:26:17.920 last thing. We were already sitting here saying, well, if 519 00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:20.279 they go 4-0, they're in the playoffs. But if they 520 00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:21.799 lose this one, they have to go 3-0 to even 521 00:26:21.819 --> 00:26:27.079 have a chance now. To even sniff a seat at 522 00:26:27.099 --> 00:26:30.039 the table, is what I'd even call it. So that's 523 00:26:30.059 --> 00:26:31.529 not a position you want to be in. So if 524 00:26:31.549 --> 00:26:33.029 they go out and win this one, I think you 525 00:26:33.049 --> 00:26:34.630 feel a lot more confident. Because I think Oregon is 526 00:26:34.690 --> 00:26:40.059 the best team left, talent-wise. On the schedule, but are 527 00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:43.859 they the best team overall? Probably not, left on the schedule. 528 00:26:44.140 --> 00:26:46.400 But we'll see. We'll see how this one goes. It's 529 00:26:46.420 --> 00:26:48.420 going to be interesting to see how they respond. I 530 00:26:48.519 --> 00:26:51.140 think that that game should light a fire under the 531 00:26:51.180 --> 00:26:56.470 coaching staff and the whole roster to kind of get 532 00:26:56.490 --> 00:26:59.569 behind their new quarterback because it's looped the rest of 533 00:26:59.609 --> 00:27:02.990 the way. That's just what it is. I think this 534 00:27:03.029 --> 00:27:04.650 game should light a fire under them, and if they 535 00:27:04.670 --> 00:27:07.930 don't respond well against Oregon– This season could get ugly quick. 536 00:27:08.910 --> 00:27:14.500 Extremely. One question before we close down shop. I'll put 537 00:27:14.519 --> 00:27:16.880 you on the spot. Actually, I won't. I sent you 538 00:27:16.900 --> 00:27:19.319 the script. You can get over it. At this moment, 539 00:27:20.200 --> 00:27:24.039 right now. Of course you didn't. At this moment, right now, 540 00:27:24.680 --> 00:27:26.069 does Ohio State make the CFP? 541 00:27:28.029 --> 00:27:34.230 If they go 4-0 and 10-2, they definitely do. Again, 542 00:27:34.269 --> 00:27:37.079 I put out a tweet last night. If they give 543 00:27:37.160 --> 00:27:40.240 anything like that effort was last night, I don't think 544 00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:44.880 they make the CFP. And I think that's truly fair 545 00:27:44.920 --> 00:27:46.609 to say. Yes, they have three of their last four 546 00:27:46.650 --> 00:27:48.750 at home. None of them are going to be easy. 547 00:27:48.930 --> 00:27:50.210 They're all going to be close games. Can they win 548 00:27:50.529 --> 00:27:54.410 close games late? They proved it against Indiana. But can 549 00:27:54.450 --> 00:27:57.150 they do it any other time? I don't know. I 550 00:27:57.170 --> 00:28:01.230 don't know. And we'll see. I think the offense has 551 00:28:01.250 --> 00:28:05.880 looked extremely different than what we expected against USC. and 552 00:28:05.940 --> 00:28:09.720 the procedural penalties are crazy. The lack of effort in 553 00:28:09.789 --> 00:28:13.250 defense is crazy. So I'm going to say no right now. 554 00:28:13.630 --> 00:28:15.309 I think they lose one more of the last four 555 00:28:16.069 --> 00:28:18.089 and finish the season 9-3, and they have a seat 556 00:28:18.109 --> 00:28:20.309 at the table, but is 9-3 good enough to get 557 00:28:20.349 --> 00:28:21.769 you in this year? If there's ever a year to 558 00:28:21.789 --> 00:28:24.700

go 9-3 and get in, it's this year. But I 559 00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:26.599 don't like leaving it up to the committee hands because 560 00:28:27.460 --> 00:28:30.660 the committee is known to do some bad, bad rankings. 561 00:28:31.119 --> 00:28:34.650 So we'll see Tuesday. If they come out, because right 562 00:28:34.670 --> 00:28:37.869 now we're, I guess we're Sunday evening. They came out 563 00:28:37.970 --> 00:28:40.269 at number 11 spot in the AP poll. If they're 564 00:28:40.289 --> 00:28:43.309 higher in the AP poll in the culture ball rankings, 565 00:28:43.349 --> 00:28:46.200 maybe around like seven or eight, then I would, maybe 566 00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:48.519 that would sway my decision of like, that kind of 567 00:28:48.539 --> 00:28:49.980 gives them some breathing room to lose one more. 568 00:28:50.759 --> 00:28:50.940 Yeah. 569 00:28:51.619 --> 00:28:54.900 But no, if they are at 11 or 12 in 570 00:28:54.920 --> 00:28:57.950 the CFP rankings, they can't lose one more. That's just 571 00:28:57.990 --> 00:28:58.589 not going to be the case. 572 00:29:00.789 --> 00:29:08.339 Absolutely not. I'm, My brain tells me no. My heart 573 00:29:08.380 --> 00:29:09.859 tells me that Ryan Day is going to get it 574 00:29:09.900 --> 00:29:13.400 together and find a way, like he has the last 575 00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:18.099 couple years, to make the CFP. It's going to be tough, dude. 576 00:29:18.579 --> 00:29:20.519 It's going to be really, really tough for them to 577 00:29:20.599 --> 00:29:24.069 do this. Luckily for them, they do get three of 578 00:29:24.089 --> 00:29:26.150 the next four at home. This reminds me a lot 579 00:29:26.170 --> 00:29:29.049 of Alabama last season, where they lost to Oklahoma with, 580 00:29:29.569 --> 00:29:32.730 I think, three games left, and it was like, got 581 00:29:32.750 --> 00:29:35.799 to win out. Like, no ifs, ands, or buts. Ohio 582 00:29:35.819 --> 00:29:39.029 State at this moment, unless my calculations are wrong, they've 583 00:29:39.049 --> 00:29:41.200 got the tiebreaker over Indy. they still would get into 584 00:29:41.220 --> 00:29:43.339 the big 10 title game over usc because usc has 585 00:29:43.400 --> 00:29:46.809 two conference losses ohio state has one i can see 586 00:29:46.829 --> 00:29:50.069 this being a scenario where ohio state wins the next 587 00:29:50.109 --> 00:29:52.250 four games and gets a third loss in the big 588 00:29:52.250 --> 00:29:54.849 10 title game and at that point it's in the 589 00:29:54.869 --> 00:29:57.569 committee's hands I don't think they'd punish them. They didn't 590 00:29:57.589 --> 00:30:02.390 punish Alabama, but we'll see what the Big Ten bias shows. 591 00:30:03.430 --> 00:30:05.529 If they get in the Big Ten championship, I think 592 00:30:05.549 --> 00:30:08.349 they're comfortably in, no matter what the outcome of that 593 00:30:08.369 --> 00:30:12.529 game is, even if they get 50-piece somehow, some way. 594 00:30:14.210 --> 00:30:17.589 But

I think they should be in comfortably if they 595 00:30:17.609 --> 00:30:21.210 make it to the Big Ten championship. So I just 596 00:30:21.230 --> 00:30:22.670 don't think they'd make it in the Big Ten championship 597 00:30:22.690 --> 00:30:25.869 with two losses in the Big Ten. That's more my 598 00:30:25.910 --> 00:30:29.049 stance on it. So we'll see exactly how it plays out. 599 00:30:29.089 --> 00:30:32.559 But I think there's an uphill climb. I guess we 600 00:30:32.599 --> 00:30:36.079 kept saying before last week, if they win this USC one, 601 00:30:36.119 --> 00:30:38.319 it feels good to have those four games left. And 602 00:30:38.359 --> 00:30:40.859 you're like, oh, we can drop one and be okay. 603 00:30:41.400 --> 00:30:44.880 The chance of going 10-2, it feels good. But I 604 00:30:44.900 --> 00:30:47.539 bet the college football playoff percentage chance for Ohio State 605 00:30:47.559 --> 00:30:50.099 dropped dramatically after that USC loss. 606 00:30:50.119 --> 00:30:51.119 Texas still at like 74%. That's insane. 607 00:30:54.059 --> 00:30:56.539 That's just insane to me. Maybe it's brand bias. I 608 00:30:56.579 --> 00:30:59.119 don't know. Um, but if Ohio state makes it, makes 609 00:30:59.240 --> 00:31:00.759 it at nine and three, if there's ever a team 610 00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:03.539 to make it in nine and three with brand bias, um, 611 00:31:03.579 --> 00:31:05.799 big 10 bias, I mean, it would be Ohio state, 612 00:31:05.859 --> 00:31:09.619 but it's, it's going to be tough. I think they 613 00:31:09.660 --> 00:31:11.589 got to win out. Uh, I do think they control 614 00:31:11.609 --> 00:31:13.150 their own destiny. So that's a good part. If they, 615 00:31:13.309 --> 00:31:15.529 if they go four and over the next four games, 616 00:31:15.950 --> 00:31:18.589 that means they got way better than they played against USC. 617 00:31:18.890 --> 00:31:21.750 And that's a good thing. And I'm hoping that happens, but, 618 00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:24.140 Ryan Day and the staff is going to have to 619 00:31:24.180 --> 00:31:26.119 figure it out of how to play around Luke Fahey, 620 00:31:26.160 --> 00:31:27.299 and this defense is going to have to figure it 621 00:31:27.339 --> 00:31:29.480 out to step up because you can't go up 30 622 00:31:29.480 --> 00:31:31.599 points and expect Luke Fahey to go out there and 623 00:31:31.619 --> 00:31:34.490 score 30 for you. That's just not what we're even 624 00:31:34.549 --> 00:31:36.569 trying to do on offense right now. The offensive play 625 00:31:36.589 --> 00:31:38.730 calling is not even trying to go score 30. We're 626 00:31:38.769 --> 00:31:41.970 trying to slow the game down and look like the 627 00:31:41.970 --> 00:31:46.630 2025 Ohio State Buckeyes. Slow the game down, win top possession, 628 00:31:47.539 --> 00:31:49.859 and only have the defense out there for six to 629 00:31:49.880 --> 00:31:52.660 seven drives a game. If you get up 30 points 630 00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:54.740 and six or seven drives a game, you're not going 631 00:31:54.759 --> 00:31:56.279 to win the game. That just is what it is. 632 00:31:56.339 --> 00:31:58.660 So we'll see how it is going forward. But they 633 00:31:58.680 --> 00:32:00.569 got an uphill climb to go to make it to 634 00:32:00.609 --> 00:32:01.390 the college football playoff. 635 00:32:02.750 --> 00:32:05.609 Do me a solid, you the viewer, hit that like 636 00:32:05.670 --> 00:32:09.349 button and subscribe to the Buckeye Huddle YouTube channel. We're 637 00:32:09.369 --> 00:32:11.230 having a great time over here. Also go over to 638 00:32:11.250 --> 00:32:13.799 the Buckeye Huddle website where Kevin Newton and I are 639 00:32:13.839 --> 00:32:17.839 covering the team. TJ's giving us elite recruiting intel. John, 640 00:32:17.880 --> 00:32:20.299 JR Rhodes with the Daily Podcast and Mark Givler running 641 00:32:20.319 --> 00:32:23.569 it all. Buckeye Nation, until Wednesday, we'll see you.