Ohio State’s USC Loss Raises Questions After a Complete Embarrassment for the Buckeyes | Deadspin

Red-zone trouble decides game

The Buckeyes were outplayed in the moments that mattered most, falling 30-18 to USC despite finishing with more yards. Their inability to turn red-zone opportunities into points was central to the loss.

True freshman Luke Fahey received the starting quarterback role. He struggled, but Ohio State’s offensive failures elsewhere meant he was not the chief cause of the defeat.

Questions about offensive plans

The performance also raised questions about what offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is trying to accomplish. Smith was described as a Heisman frontrunner, and he recorded 10 catches for 83 yards and a touchdown in the loss. That production came in a game where Ohio State still could not convert its yardage into enough points to keep pace with USC.

Oregon presents next challenge

Ohio State, ranked third in the Big Ten, hosts unranked Oregon on Saturday. The Ducks will be without starting quarterback Dante Moore, who is expected to be a first-round NFL Draft pick in April. Oregon backup Dylan Raiola has considerably more experience than Fahey, creating another challenge for the Buckeyes as they try to respond to the USC defeat.

A season at a crossroads

Ohio State’s season was characterized as a down year, though the same assessment could apply to many college football teams. The account described a season without a clearly elite team. Still, a repeat of the Buckeyes’ disoriented performance in Southern California could leave their season headed toward an early end, with next year already in view.