Ohio State's College Football Playoff hopes take big hit with loss to Oregon, Jeremiah Smith shows frustration
The Buckeyes, 12th in the College Football Playoff rankings, were touchdown favorites against No.23 Oregon but were dominated, 41-28, for their second loss in as many weeks.This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners.
If you sign up or place a wager, FOX News may be compensated.This content was created by a team that works independently from the FOX newsroom.It looked like all Buckeyes early, as they got out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter sans Julian Sayin, but someone lit a fire under Oregon's you-know-what, and they responded with 38 unanswered points.CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGEOregon quarterbacks Dylan Raiola and Ryder Hayes celebrate a touchdown as the Ducks face the Ohio State Buckeyes on Nov.
7, 2026, at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.(USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)The Buckeyes were two-and-a-half minutes away from going into the locker room with at least a 14-3 lead, but the Ducks faked a punt on 4th and 10, which apparently was the turning point.
Five plays later, they found the end zone to cut the deficit to four, and then Luke Fahey threw an interception near midfield, which Oregon turned into a 17-14 lead right as the first half ended.The bleeding did not stop, as momentum, and the ball, was all in Oregon's hands to start the second half.Dierre Hill Jr.
took a 48-yard scamper to the house to go up two possessions, and the Buckeyes were stumped.After a three-and-out in their first drive of the second half, their next four drives resulted in turnovers on downs, all while Oregon managed to put up two more touchdowns to go up 38-14.Jeremiah Smith had a 57-yard reception in garbage time to make his stats pretty (seven receptions for 133 yards), but let his emotions out on the field as he may have watched his Heisman chances slip away.
He was held to just four catches through three quarters, three of them in the first half.The Buckeyes had been the first team out of the first edition of the College Fo...