Ohio State's Playoff Hopes Are All But Dead After Getting Throttled by Oregon in Columbus

Imagine being told this summer that Ohio State would be virtually eliminated from the College Football Playoff conversation on November 7.

After today's performance, though, I don't see any way the CFP committee could put the Buckeyes in with a backup quarterback regardless of what else transpires the rest of the way. There will almost certainly be at least one three-loss team in the field, but it is not going to be Ohio State.

Luke Fahey has not been good since Julian Sayin went down against Indiana, but losing the quarterback alone does not account for how OSU has looked in its last two games. The entire team looks lost and the defense was getting gashed by an Oregon team led by Dylan Raiola.

The loss to the Ducks makes the Buckeyes 6-5 in their last 11 games dating back to the end of the 2025 season. Sure, most of those have come against pretty good teams and Sayin's injury can't be ignored, but Ohio State should never be 6-5 in any stretch. The margins in college football are thinner than they've ever been and if you're not at your best, teams are going to make you pay.

This doesn't look like a team that has lost its last game this season, either. Northwestern and Michigan are both capable of going to Columbus and beating this team with the way it looks right now.

Prayers up for Ohio's Tate.