Day Calls Oregon a Major Challenge for Ohio State
On November 3, 2026, Ohio State coach Ryan Day praised Oregon’s talent ahead of their Week 10 game in Columbus, after the Ducks beat Northwestern and the Buckeyes lost to USC.
Ohio State coach Ryan Day said Oregon has one of the country’s most talented rosters as the teams prepare to meet in Columbus in Week 10. The No. 11 Buckeyes are coming off a 30-18 loss to USC, while Oregon beat Northwestern 34-26 and arrives with renewed momentum.
Oregon quarterback Dylan Raiola threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns against Northwestern. It was his second consecutive start, and Day highlighted the quarterback’s experience and strong arm. Raiola previously faced Ohio State as a freshman at Nebraska in 2024, completing 152 passing yards and adding 31 rushing yards in a 21-17 Buckeyes victory.
The Ducks also beat USC 41-27 in Week 4, a result Day contrasted with Ohio State’s recent defeat by the Trojans. He said Oregon has NFL-caliber players across the field, including speed at receiver, and praised its offensive line, tight end, running backs and defense.
Oregon made a change to its offensive staff before the Northwestern game, with assistant quarterbacks coach Jay Johnson taking over play-calling after the program parted ways with offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer. The Ducks had previously struggled to score 20 points.
Day said Ohio State must correct its mistakes and improve across all phases, warning that the Buckeyes’ recent level of play would not be enough against Oregon. Both teams have multiple losses, despite entering the season ranked first and second in preseason projections, respectively.