Finebaum Criticizes Ryan Day After Ohio State's Surprising Loss to Oregon

Ohio State suffered a significant setback in their college football season, losing to Oregon in a match that saw the Buckeyes fall from their 12th ranking in the College Football Playoff standings. The game, which took place before November 8, 2026, ended with a final score of 41-28, marking the first time since 2011 that Ohio State has lost two games so early in the season ³.

This loss came as a surprise to many, especially given that Ohio State held a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. However, Oregon managed to turn the tide with 38 consecutive points, including a pivotal fake punt on 4th and 10 that proved to be a game-changer ³.

The defeat has not gone unnoticed by sports analysts, with Jeff Finebaum of ESPN expressing his disappointment in the coaching decisions made by Ryan Day. This criticism comes on the heels of another recent loss for Ohio State, this time to USC, which occurred without the presence of key player Julian Sayin ³.

In addition to the strategic blunders highlighted by Finebaum, Ohio State faced other challenges during the game. They struggled to convert opportunities into touchdowns within the red zone and incurred 11 penalties that cost them 71 yards ².

Despite these setbacks, some standout performances shone through. Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith had seven receptions for 133 yards, though his Heisman Trophy prospects were somewhat diminished as a result of the loss ³. On the opposing side, Oregon’s quarterback Dylan Raiola, who previously played at Ohio Stadium for Nebraska, threw for three touchdowns in his last game against Northwestern ²³.

Looking ahead, Ohio State faces tough competition in their upcoming games, with matches against Northwestern, Nebraska, and Michigan on the horizon ³. Meanwhile, Oregon will also face formidable opponents, including Michigan, Michigan State, and Washington ³.

What we know

• - Ohio State lost to Oregon in a college football game ¹³
• - Ryan Day is the coach of Ohio State ¹
• - The game resulted in criticism from ESPN analyst Jeff Finebaum ¹
• - Ohio State has not lost two games this early in the season since 2011 ²
• - Ohio State lost a 12-point game to an unranked team recently ²
• - Ohio State struggled to score touchdowns in the red zone during their recent game ²
• - Ohio State had 11 penalties costing 71 yards in their last game ²
• - Dylan Raiola, Oregon's quarterback, previously played at Ohio Stadium for Nebraska ²
• - Dylan Raiola threw for three touchdowns in his last game against Northwestern ²
• - Jeremiah Smith holds multiple school and Big Ten records for receptions and receiving yards ²
• - Jeremiah Smith needs 164 receiving yards to set the career Big Ten record for receiving yards ²
• - Ohio State lost to Oregon in college football, 41-28 ³
• - Ohio State was previously ranked 12th in the College Football Playoff rankings ³
• - The game took place on an unspecified date prior to November 8, 2026 ³
• - Ohio State had a 14-0 lead in the first quarter but Oregon responded with 38 consecutive points ³
• - Oregon's fake punt on 4th and 10 was considered a turning point in the game ³
• - Jeremiah Smith of Ohio State had seven receptions for 133 yards, but his Heisman chances were diminished ³
• - Ohio State's previous week's loss was to USC, making them 0-2 without player Julian Sayin ³
• - Dylan Raiola of Oregon completed 25 of 40 passes for 257 yards and two touchdowns ³
• - Ohio State's upcoming games include matches against Northwestern, Nebraska, and Michigan ³
• - Oregon's remaining games include matches against Michigan, Michigan State, and Washington ³