Matt Patricia Archives

Buckeye Football: Ohio State’s Defense Faces Critical Test Against Jayden Maiava

Ohio State cornerback Devin Sanchez (6) reaches for Indiana wide receiver Charlie Becker (80) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Bloomington, Ind. Doug McSchooler - FR170771 AP

October 26, 2026

Coming off an emotional win in Bloomington and a bye week, Ohio State’s defense faces a new challenge in Los Angeles against a prolific passer in Jayden Maiava. The Silver Bullets handled Josh Hoover and the Hoosier aerial attack. Charlie Becker got loose a few too many times and ended up with 9 catches for 165 yards but was kept out of the endzone. Hoover finished with a 50 percent…

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Matt Patricia Breaks Down the Challenge USC’s Passing Game Presents for Ohio State

Image Credit: Aidan Sun/Daily Bruin/Assistant Photo editor

October 26, 2026

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Matt Patricia breaks down the challenge USC quarterback Jayden Maiava poses for Ohio State as the Trojans come off a 24-7 loss to Wisconsin. Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia expects USC to challenge his defense at every level of the field when the Buckeyes travel to Los Angeles on Saturday. The Trojans enter the matchup at 6-2 overall and 3-2 in Big Ten play after a 24-7 loss to…

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Challenges Ohio State Football Faces the Rest of Season and How They Should Be Navigated

Ohio State now finds itself squarely in a six-week gauntlet that has been anticipated since the release of the 2026 schedule. The stretch will unfold as follows post-Indiana: BYE, @USC and then Oregon, Northwestern, @Nebraska and Michigan. With Northwestern being one of the biggest surprises in college football this year, all five of OSU’s remaining opponents sit inside the top 32 in the FPI rankings as of this week. We are going to find out what this OSU team is truly made of as depth will be as important as ever. Improved Discipline Ohio State ranks 68th in the country when it comes to penalties per game, averaging nearly 7 per game. The matchup against Maryland was no exception either as OSU committed 8 penalties for 65 yards and Ryan Day was not hiding his displeasure on the sidelines throughout the contest. On one particular drive, a roughing the passer penalty bailed Maryland out on third down. Then on following drive, Maryland found some succcess moving the ball into their red zone. When the Buckeyes had a chance to bow up and force a field goal, they instead committed back-to-back penalties that allowed the Terps to easily punch it in and cut OSU’s lead to 14-10 early. Against Indiana, Ohio State only committed 4 penalties, but they were costly ones. Jermaine Mathew’s roughing the passer. Holding call to take the offense out of field goal range and Luke Fahey’s intentional grounding were all costly mistakes. Even though OSU came out with the win, there was a slew of errors that kept Indiana within striking distance all game. OSU’s depth was certainly tested against Indiana. The status of Julian Sayin is still unknown and coach Day as alluded to the fact that they trust Luke Fahey moving forward. With that said, Ryan Day wants his team to be a “four quarter” football team. Being able to sustain focus and play smart football for four quarters will be a major key to watch if Ohio State wants to take care of business during this stretch, no matter who ends up taking the field for Coach Day. Otherwise, The Buckeyes could find themselves unable to manage or finish games during a period of time where they can’t afford to. Sustain Run Game Arthur Smith offenses are notorious for being with predicated on and creative in the run game, going back to his days calling plays for the Tennessee Titans with Derick Henry. Although OSU got off to a fairly slow start running the ball this year, the results have steadily improved, particularly in Big Ten play. In the past four games, Ohio State’s leading rushers (Bo Jackson, Ja’Kobi Jackson and/or Isaiah West) have combined for 109, 142, 183 and then 101 yards against a stout Indiana run defense. Considering The Buckeyes are now depending on backup QB Luke Fahey for the foreseeable future, have this run game peaking at the right time is essential. Keeping the pressure off of Fahey and not allowing defenses to pin their ears back on him is a must moving forward. With that, the offense should be able to operate at a high enough level to make it through the regular season as a playoff team, assuming Luke is able to protect the football. Defense Wins Championships What Matt Patricia has been able to do with his unit after losing so much talent to the NFL has been remarkable. Ohio State’s defense currently ranks No. 4 nationally in both opponent yards (264.3) and opponent points per game (13.4). It wasn’t always easy for the defense, as pass rush was a major issue up until Big Ten play and the Illinois game exposed the defense with a handful of big plays. However, since then this unit has essentially been lights out. The pass rush, although not quite where it needs to be, has improved dramatically. Particularly with the surge of guys like Qua Russaw and Eddrick Houston. Defensive Back blitzes have also been a useful way to apply pressure, as evident with Jaylen McClain making a huge strip sack against Indiana and even Jermaine Mathews hitting Josh Hoover on the questionable roughing the passer penalty. Being able to successfully apply this pressure was the missing link in what has now become an elite defensive unit. With so much unknown and inexperience leading the offense, this defense will be even more important. If the offense isn’t able to sustain success or takes time to gel under Fahey, The Buckeyes may have to win games with defense, much like they arguably did in Bloomington. Ohio State certainly has their work cut out for them as they navigate the next five games with a winded roster. Injuries are part of the game though and any team on OSU’s schedule is going to dedicate game plans to exploit this. The coaching staff has done an exceptional job thus far, but the challenges have only grown in difficulty. This bye week couldn’t come at a better time for the Buckeyes.

October 19, 2026

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After surviving a thriller in Bloomington, Ohio State now faces replacing Julian Sayin and navigating a challenging five-game stretch. Ohio State now faces a five-week gauntlet that has been anticipated since the 2026 schedule dropped. The stretch will unfold as follows post-Indiana: Idle, @USC, Oregon, Northwestern, @Nebraska, and Michigan. With Northwestern being one of the biggest surprises in college football this year, all five of OSU’s remaining opponents sit inside…

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Ohio State vs. Indiana: How Both Teams Have Changed and Where the Matchups are 10 Months Later

COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 10: Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle John Walker #55 reacts to a play during the first quarter of the game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Maryland Terrapins at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on October 10, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

October 12, 2026

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Ohio State and Indiana meet in a massive rematch of the 2025 Big Ten Championship. With major changes on both sides, new matchups have emerged. On December 6th, 2025, Ohio State last played the Hoosiers in what became the genesis of a historic run for Indiana. After defeating the Buckeyes in a 13-10 rock fight, Curt Cignetti’s squad became the first-ever 16-0 national champion in college football history. Now, both…

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Ohio State Football: The Steps that Must be Taken to Make the 2026 Buckeyes a Championship Contender

Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith celebrates his touchdown against Illinois during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

September 29, 2026

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The 2026 Ohio State Buckeyes still have room to grow in order to become true National Championship contenders. Here’s what needs to be fixed. With October waiting on the doorstep, the regular season is now one-third of the way complete. Ohio State is back in the top five of the AP poll, with a month of data to evaluate. Here is what deserves the most attention on the path to…

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Ohio State Football: Buckeyes Look to Start Loaded Big Ten Schedule Strong

September 25, 2026

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Ohio State opens Big Ten play this weekend, facing the Illinois Fighting Illini in game four. The Buckeyes will look to shore up issues that have stood out through the first three weeks and start a challenging schedule on the right track. Here’s how the two squads match up as we close out the first quarter of the regular season. Opponent Profile The Illini feature some new looks, but a…

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Ohio State Football: Young Defenders Ready for Bigger Roles as Big Ten Play Begins

Ohio State linebacker Riley Pettijohn |Image Credit: Ohio State Football

September 24, 2026

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Is Ohio State expanding the roles of young defenders Jay Timmons, Khary Wilder, Riley Pettijohn, and T.J. Alford as Big Ten play begins? Ohio State has spent the first three games of the season learning what its young defensive players can handle. Jay Timmons has earned a starting role. Khary Wilder has carved out a place in third-down situations. Riley Pettijohn and TJ Alford have shown the athleticism and playmaking…

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Which Buckeyes Could Step Up as Pass Rushers for Ohio State?

Image Credit: Justin Cohen Photography/The Silver Bulletin

September 15, 2026

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Ohio State’s defense struggled mightily to rush the passer against Texas, which contributed to a back-breaking loss and future worries. Leading up to the season, the Buckeye defensive line couldn’t identify a true second option off the edge. The lack of standout play in camp raised concerns, especially with the showdown against Texas looming early in the season. Lone Star Letdown Of players who saw 10+ snaps against Texas, the…

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Ohio State’s Identity Has Changed: Ryan Day Must Trust Jeremiah Smith and Julian Sayin

Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith against Texas | Image Credit: Justin Cohen Photography/The Silver Bulletin

September 14, 2026

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Ohio State must embrace its offensive identity and trust Jeremiah Smith and Julian Sayin when the game is on the line. Ohio State’s best player was standing on the sideline when the game was hanging in the balance. Jeremiah Smith had eight catches for 164 yards and a touchdown against Texas, and he was the most dangerous player on the field for most of the night. He watched the final…

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Ohio State Collapses Against Texas: Did Ryan Day Play Not to Lose?

September 13, 2026

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Texas entered this game with pressure, but Ohio State faced a question of its own – would the Buckeyes play to win or not to lose? AUSTIN, Texas – Ohio State didn’t lose Saturday night because Texas controlled the game from start to finish. The Buckeyes led for most of the night, held the Longhorns to three points through seven possessions and entered the fourth quarter with a 20-point lead….

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