Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State’s loss to USC exposed major concerns, but Luke Fahey, Bo Jackson and Connor Hawkins boosted their stock in Week 9.
Ohio State’s 30-18 loss to USC exposed problems across the roster, and the Buckeyes have plenty to address heading into November. The Trojans struck on the second play from scrimmage with a 69-yard touchdown, putting Ryan Day’s team in an early hole it never recovered from. Despite finishing with 464 yards of offense, Ohio State struggled to finish drives, committed 11 penalties, and allowed USC to capitalize on explosive plays.
Luke Fahey deserves credit for handling his first career start, while Connor Hawkins remained dependable in a difficult night for the Buckeyes. Bo Jackson also delivered a productive performance on the ground, rushing for 121 yards. However, several veterans failed to meet expectations, and the offensive line’s continued inconsistency remains a major concern.
Following the loss, let’s look at which Buckeyes saw their stock rise or fall in this week’s edition of Buckeye Stock Market.
Buckeyes Falling
Devin McCuin
Devin McCuin caught just one pass in the Buckeyes’ loss on Saturday. Aside from Jeremiah Smith, the Buckeyes wide receiver room has been rather disappointing this season. McCuin has shown flashes but continues to come up short in big games. McCuin has 20 receptions for 285 yards and 2 touchdowns on the season.
Beau Atkinson
Defensive end Beau Atkinson continues to disappoint, converting just one tackle on Saturday. In addition, Atkinson committed another costly penalty, which set up the Trojans for the score. The veteran hasn’t looked like the player he once was since joining Ohio State. As the season continues, the Buckeyes will hope to see more production out of Atkinson.
Tyler Bowen
It would be easy to list each individual member of the offensive line and explain why they played so poorly against the Trojans, but instead, offensive line coach Tyler Bowen will get the blame. The Buckeyes offensive line has been inconsistent at best since Bowen took over for Justin Frye in 2025.
Saturday’s performance was one of many underwhelming outings in Bowen’s tenure, and it doesn’t look like things will improve anytime soon.
I might be stupid…
But I feel like Luke Fahey has been the least of Ohio State’s problems tonight.
— Brooks Austin (@BrooksAustinBA) November 1, 2026
Buckeyes Rising
Luke Fahey
Freshman quarterback Luke Fahey made his first career start in his home state of California against the Trojans. Fahey completed 21 passes on 38 attempts for 260 yards and a touchdown. While his performance wasn’t perfect, he certainly wasn’t one of the many reasons why the Buckeyes lost this game.
Fahey limited mistakes, didn’t turn the ball over, and did what he needed to do to guide the Buckeyes offense. Fahey will look to build off this performance in Julian Sayin’s absence.
Bo Jackson
Running back Bo Jackson was one of the few Buckeyes who consistently gave the offense a chance to move the football. Jackson rushed for 121 yards on 21 carries, averaging 5.8 yards per attempt against the Trojans. His ability to find running room gave Ohio State a productive option on the ground, even as the passing game struggled to find consistency.
Jackson showed the physicality and explosiveness Ohio State needs from its backfield. The offensive line still has to do a better job creating opportunities, but Jackson made the most of the carries he received. His performance against USC was another positive step for the sophomore, and his stock continues to trend upward.
Connor Hawkins
Transfer kicker Connor Hawkins was the Buckeyes’ only consistent source of offense on Saturday. Hawkins nailed all four field-goal attempts, scoring 12 of the Buckeyes’ 18 points. Hawkins has looked the part all season and will continue to be a reliable piece on the Buckeyes special teams unit.
Cody Croy is a writer for The Silver Bulletin. He is the founder and Co-host of The Boomin Buckeyes Podcast. Cody is set to attend Kent State University at Tuscarawas. He specializes in everything Ohio State football and basketball
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