Ohio State lost 30-18 to USC as penalties, turnovers, defensive breakdowns, and red zone failures exposed problems beyond Luke Fahey.

LOS ANGELES — Ohio State needed to help its true freshman quarterback Luke Fahey in his first start. Instead, the Buckeyes made nearly every mistake possible, putting him in a difficult position.

USC defeated Ohio State 30-18 on Halloween night at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, handing the Buckeyes their second loss of the season and exposing problems that have followed this team throughout the year.

For all the questions surrounding what Ohio State would look like without Julian Sayin, the quarterback position was far down the list of concerns coming out of Los Angeles.

Fahey was not perfect. He missed throws that could have changed the complexion of the game, including opportunities to find Devin McCuin in the end zone. His inexperience showed at times, as expected from a true freshman making his first collegiate start on the road.

What happened around him was more concerning, as Ohio State committed 11 penalties for 71 yards, lost a fumble, struggled to finish drives in the red zone, and surrendered explosive plays that changed the game. The defense allowed 338 yards on 50 plays.

The Buckeyes finished with 464 yards of total offense, ran for 204 yards, and controlled possession for nearly 40 minutes, and still lost by 12 points. Ohio State generated opportunities but repeatedly failed to capitalize. Its problems did not begin with Sayin’s injury. His absence made them harder to overcome.

Ryan Day discussing Ohio State’s pace of play late in the game against USC: https://t.co/ouTlh0JlyV

— Blake T. Biscardi (@BlakeBiscardi) November 1, 2026

Ohio State Failed Its First Responsibility to Luke Fahey

There was a responsibility attached to Fahey’s first start that extended beyond the quarterback play. The offensive line needed to establish the run, the receivers needed to make plays, the defense needed to set the tone, and the coaching staff needed to put him in favorable situations.

Ohio State spent the previous two weeks talking about rallying around its young quarterback. Everyone needed to elevate their performance with Sayin unavailable. But that never happened.

USC scored on the second play of the game when Jayden Maiava found Trent Mosley on a 69-yard screen pass. Jaylen McClain later described the breakdown as a lack of effort, a troubling admission considering the circumstances. Fahey’s first collegiate start immediately became a comeback attempt.

The mistakes continued on special teams. Ohio State had an opportunity to pin USC deep after punting from plus territory. Instead, Mosley returned the punt into Ohio State territory, and a late hit pushed the Trojans into favorable field position. USC eventually converted the opportunity into another touchdown.

Those are mistakes Ohio State cannot afford when starting a freshman quarterback. Fahey needed the players around him to execute. Fahey completed 21 of 38 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown. He missed opportunities, particularly on deep throws, and has room to improve. His performance deserves some criticism without making him the primary reason Ohio State lost.

A young quarterback should not have to overcome a two-score deficit, repeated penalties, dropped passes, special teams breakdowns, and defensive mistakes. Ryan Day acknowledged the lack of execution afterward.

“It’s extremely frustrating, coming to a game like this with a young quarterback and not play cleaner than we did. Just too many penalties,” Day said.

The Buckeyes had red zone opportunities but failed to execute. Day also acknowledged that the team did not do enough to help Fahey.

Red-Zone Problems Caught Up With Ohio State

The most frustrating part of Ohio State’s offensive performance was its inability to finish drives. Connor Hawkins made all four field-goal attempts, accounting for 12 of Ohio State’s 18 points before Jeremiah Smith’s late fourth-quarter touchdown.

Ohio State’s first four scoring opportunities produced four field goals. However, the sequence that stood out came when the Buckeyes were inches from the goal line in the first half.

Fahey had just converted a quarterback sneak for nearly three yards. Rather than continuing with the physical approach that had worked, Ohio State lined up in the shotgun on first down. The result was a half-yard loss. A penalty followed, and the Buckeyes settled for another field goal.

Why abandon the approach that had just moved the football? This has been a recurring issue with Day’s offense. Ohio State can move the football between the 20-yard lines, but its execution becomes inconsistent in the red area.

The numbers entering the USC game showed that the problem was already present. Ohio State had scored on 29 of 33 red-zone possessions, but only 22 resulted in touchdowns. The Buckeyes cannot afford to leave points on the field, especially with a freshman quarterback and a difficult November schedule.

Jeremiah Smith Makes History on a Frustrating Night

Jeremiah Smith caught his 40th career touchdown pass, setting a new Big Ten record and surpassing Michigan’s Braylon Edwards with 39. Smith finished with 10 receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown. His achievement adds another chapter to an already accomplished career at Ohio State.

However, even Smith’s record-breaking night could not change the outcome. Ohio State needs more than individual milestones to overcome its current problems. Smith remains one of the most dangerous players in college football, but the burden of carrying the offense cannot keep falling on him.

The Buckeyes need more consistent production from the surrounding cast, with the same applying to the defense. Individual talent isn’t enough when the unit fails to execute as a whole.

Ohio State Has a Decision to Make Before Oregon

The conversation surrounding Ohio State’s season changed Saturday night. Before Sayin’s injury, the Buckeyes had legitimate National Championship aspirations. Even with their flaws, they had reasons to believe they could compete with the best teams in the country.

That conversation needs to be put on hold. The College Football Playoff is still possible, but the path has become harder. Ohio State is now 6-2 and faces an important stretch of November football beginning with Oregon.

Dan Lanning’s Ducks come to Columbus on November 7 and will have a chance to take advantage of an Ohio State team coming off its second loss. Oregon presents a difficult matchup, especially on defense. The Buckeyes will need to protect Fahey, establish the run, and generate explosive plays without putting the entire offense on their freshman quarterback.

More importantly, Ohio State needs to demonstrate that Saturday was a failure of execution rather than an accurate representation of the team without Julian Sayin.