The Silver Bulletin staff makes their predictions for Ohio State and Oregon as the Buckeyes and Ducks meet in a crucial Big Ten matchup.

Ohio State and Oregon were the pre-season No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country, and this matchup was supposed to be a precursor to one, maybe even two rematches in the postseason. While the seasons have taken unexpected turns for each team, the game still carries importance and stakes for both sides.

Luke Fahey vs. Dylan Raiola wasn’t the quarterback battle we expected, but injuries to Julian Sayin and Dante Moore mean Fahey and Raiola will lead their teams with playoff hopes on the line.

Our staff shares their predictions for the highly anticipated game:

Dave

The Buckeyes win a hard-fought game under Scarlet-out conditions.

Ohio State 24, Oregon 23

Blake Biscardi

What version of Ohio State will show up against Oregon? This game feels similar to the lead-up to the Tennessee playoff game in terms of the unknown. But sometimes uncertainty is the best canvas for opportunity.

Ryan Day’s focus has been on execution and his players stepping up. But it’s not enough for the head coach to talk about it because of what happened last week. He said what matters is what happens on Saturday, and for Ohio State to win, that starts up front with the offensive line protecting Luke Fahey.

The true freshman quarterback did enough to win in Los Angeles, but was ultimately let down. Still, Fahey needs to take a step forward himself. I expect a hard-nosed effort from the Buckeyes in the trenches with their backs against the wall. In a game where it’s “playoff time” for Ohio State, they rise to the occasion as the Buckeyes seize the opportunity in front of a “Scarlet the Shoe” home crowd.

Ohio State 24, Oregon 20

Grant Kincaid

Ohio State has its back against the wall in a big way against an Oregon team that has nothing to lose. The Ducks possess the talent to shock OSU if Coach Day and the staff aren’t able to steer this team into the right mindset. I see a stressful win for the Buckeyes, with a key play or two in the fourth quarter propelling them to victory.

Ohio State 23, Oregon 14

Dan Smyth

Josh Cassinger

Ohio State and Oregon are starting to develop a little rivalry, and this week is no different. However, it isn’t the top-five matchup the country was hoping for.

Both teams have lost their Heisman-candidate quarterbacks for the season: Dante Moore and Julian Sayin. They are also dealing with key injuries, including Ohio State wide receiver Brandon Inniss, who is questionable heading into the game, and Oregon running back Jordon Davison, who has been ruled out.

Just because injuries have derailed both teams’ quests for a perfect season doesn’t mean much is at stake. Oregon has a chance to ruin Ohio State’s chances of earning a playoff berth with a victory, which would ultimately help save its season. Ohio State, meanwhile, has a chance to right the ship after a poor showing against USC last week.

But here’s how I see it: Fahey will outplay the veteran backup Raiola, and Jeremiah Smith will have a huge day as he continues to strengthen his case for the Heisman Trophy. Bo Jackson and Isiah West will continue to get stronger in the running game.

Defensively, freshman Jay Timmons will be back, and the Silver Bullets will return to form. After feeling embarrassed by their performance last week, I expect this defense to come out with something to prove and frustrate Raiola into making mistakes. The Buckeyes win comfortably.

Ohio State 28, Oregon 14

Carson Hutton

Ohio State rattled off five straight wins after their late-game woes against Texas, and I don’t think they will drop back-to-back in this spot. They face an Oregon team that has lost two of its last four and was down as many as 14 against Northwestern last weekend. The Buckeyes failed to turn their drives into touchdowns instead of field goals last week, but I think they will find the end zone a few times in this one, including an Isaiah West score after a solid game against USC.

Jeremiah Smith, Devin McCuin, and Chris Henry Jr. will take the load off Luke Fahey in his first home start, which will be easier than the rain and away environment of his first start. The Buckeyes need to win in the trenches on both sides of the ball and pressure Dylan Raiola into some bad choices. The defense gets some timely stops and keeps the Ducks’ offense in check en route to a big win heading into the final stretch of the season.

Ohio State 27, Oregon 17

Cody Croy

Ohio State 21, Oregon 0

AJ Mahoney

Luke Fahey calms down in the pocket, and the defense helps the Buckeyes scathe through a tough home win against Oregon to put themselves back in playoff conversations ahead of next week’s matchup against Northwestern.

Ohio State 21, Oregon 17

Alex Biscardi

Oregon comes out firing and leads most of the game, but Ohio State claws back and finishes strong to earn a big home win over the Ducks.

Ohio State 20, Oregon 17

Blake Biscardi

Blake Biscardi serves as Co-Founder, Lead Reporter, and Senior Editor of The Silver Bulletin. He hosts the Buckeye Cadence podcast, where he breaks down Ohio State football and basketball with an inside look into the programs. Covering Julian Sayin in New York City in 2025 was his Heisman moment, which became a viral moment in its own right. Biscardi is a member of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and has degrees in Business Administration and Strategic Communication & Leadership.