Ohio State returns to the Horseshoe to face an upset-minded Oregon squad that has found new life. Let’s preview the battle of backup quarterbacks.

Coming off a puzzling, disappointing loss to USC, Ohio State looks to turn the tide against an Oregon squad with nothing to lose. Ryan Day expects his team to “learn pretty damn fast” from the problems in LA, and the margin for error is paper-thin for OSU.

Here’s what to watch for in this pivotal matchup this Saturday:

Opponent Profile

This was ‘supposed’ to be a top five matchup. Instead, Oregon’s struggles have been well documented this year. From the preseason No. 2 team in the country to losing three games in a six-week span and losing an NFL prospect at QB in Dante Moore in the process.

The quarterback situation has been fairly fluid since then. With that, Dylan Raiola appears to be the starter for the foreseeable future after an impressive 3-touchdown performance in a comeback win over Northwestern last week. The now No. 23-ranked Ducks come into Columbus with not much to lose and a spoiler mindset. Dylan Raiola vs. Luke Fahey, as we all expected.

Chris Hampton’s defense hasn’t been what they expected. The Ducks returned seven starters from a defense that finished 7th in total defense in 2025. So far in 2026, Oregon is 72nd in total defense through eight games. The ground game has been a tremendous disappointment as well, as the Ducks are 106th in the FBS in rush yards per game (119.1).

To make matters worse, they will also be without their leading rusher, Jordon Davison, this weekend. This has simply been too large a hurdle to overcome, especially when Dante Moore went down with his severe concussion. As a result, less than a year after advancing to the quarterfinal of the College Football Playoff, Oregon was eliminated from contention by mid-October.

Even with all the turmoil, this team is coming off a come-from-behind win against a ranked opponent. If Ohio State has learned one thing lately, it’s that you can’t take a team like this for granted. Like USC, Oregon has the talent to give OSU issues with the right motivation. The Buckeyes can’t open the door for that opportunity if they want to get back on the right track come Saturday.

Fahey vs Oregon Defense

Luke Fahey struggled against USC, completing just 55 percent of his passes and throwing a few key overthrows. Aside from that, he was about as effective as a true freshman in that spot could be, and he didn’t turn the ball over. Back home on the banks of the Olentangy, Fahey will need to settle in and take a noticeable step forward.

Despite Oregon’s defensive struggles this year, the pass defense has been inside the top 20 nationally in the past three games, allowing just over 178 yards per game. With a true second option at receiver still not quite materializing for Ohio State, Jeremiah Smith has become an even bigger target for defenses to swarm.

With a young quarterback who will need Smith as a safety blanket, Oregon will assuredly try to make life tough for Jeremiah. This is, of course, much easier said than done, but USC capped him at 8.3 yards per reception, forcing other guys to step up, and we all know how that game ended.

That said, Fahey did not appear to have issues tuning through progressions and extending plays when he needed to. The main difference to watch is hitting the easy targets when they’re open. Key misses to Devin McCuin and Jeremiah Smith changed the outlook of the game against the Trojans. Oregon hasn’t given many opportunities in the pass game lately, so Luke will need to make them pay when he has the chance.

The Redzone Saga

Ohio State’s red zone issues have been a theme for much of the 2026 season. The loss at USC was perhaps the most disappointing redzone performance of the season. Even with the Buckeyes dominating in both yards (464 to 338) and time of possession (40:00 to 20:00), they managed just 18 points after settling for four field goals in the process. Although credit has to be given to Connor Hawkins, settling for field goals will not get the Buckeyes where they want to go.

Personnel decisions in the red zone have been interesting, to say the least. It’s become a theme for Arthur Smith to use tight ends in 12 and 13 personnel when nearing the end zone. Not only has the tight end room faltered in these spots, but taking playmakers off the field like Jeremiah Smith, Chris Henry Jr and Devin McCuin is a roll of the dice that has seemed to play right into the defense’s hands. Look for the staff to put together more plays that use more personnel and force the defense to pay attention and cover more space.

There have been plenty of mental errors, too. Between the false start when OSU was inches from the goal line and Bo Jackson’s wide-open drop into the end zone, Ohio State was shooting itself in the foot. Whether it’s untimely penalties, miscues, or personnel decisions, the recipe hasn’t worked for the Buckeyes.

Against an Oregon defense that currently ranks 74th in red zone defense, Ohio State has to capitalize on its opportunities against an upset-minded Ducks team.

Prediction: Ohio State 23, Oregon 14

Game Details

No. 23 Oregon 5-3 (3-2) vs No.12 Ohio State 6-2 (4-1)

Spread-Total: OSU -7.5 – O/U 46.5

3:30 PM ET on CBS