Ohio State Seeks Fixes Before Oregon Visit
Ohio State, coming off a 30-18 loss to USC, hosts Oregon in a Big Ten matchup on November 7 in Columbus. The Buckeyes will look to improve their red-zone offense, defensive coverage, start and penalty discipline.
Published November 1, 2026. Ohio State will host Oregon on November 7 at 3:30 p.m. ET, with the Buckeyes looking to respond to a 30-18 loss to USC. The No. 11 Buckeyes are 6-2; Oregon is 5-3. CBS will broadcast the game, and Ohio State opened as a 9.5-point favorite.
Against USC, Ohio State gained 464 yards and held the ball for nearly 40 minutes but scored only 18 points. The Buckeyes had 18 red-zone plays and managed one touchdown, with four other trips ending in field goals. They also started slowly, trailing 14-3 after the first quarter, and committed 11 penalties for 71 yards.
The loss also exposed vulnerability to big plays: USC averaged 6.8 yards per play and scored a 69-yard touchdown pass on its first significant play. Ohio State’s next challenge is an Oregon team that has shown an uneven offense, including a 41-27 win over USC and a 10-point performance against Illinois.
Oregon beat Northwestern 34-26 on October 31. Quarterback Dylan Raiola threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns, while receiver Dakorien Moore had 128 yards and two scores. Ohio State’s season leaders include quarterback Julian Sayin, with 2,007 passing yards and 19 touchdowns, and receiver Jeremiah Smith, with 1,067 yards and 13 touchdowns.
The matchup features contrasting numbers: Ohio State averages 36.6 points per game, while Oregon averages 33.3. Oregon has scored on 94.3% of its red-zone chances, and Ohio State has allowed opponents to score on 84.2% of their red-zone trips. After the game, Ohio State hosts Northwestern and Oregon hosts Michigan on November 14.