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Buckeyes' Playoff hopes still alive despite crushing loss to Oregon

Saturday’s narrow 32-31 loss to Oregon was a tough pill to swallow for Ohio State fans, as the Buckeyes came up just short in a thrilling top-five showdown.

By Tyler Lyman

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith hauls in a catch as the No. 3 Oregon Ducks host the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith hauls in a catch as the No. 3 Oregon Ducks host the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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This past weekend's Oregon-Ohio State game was a hard one to watch for Buckeye fans, a heartbreaking 32-31 loss that slipped away in the final moments. This felt like a game the Buckeyes should’ve won, and it’s a tough one to swallow.

Ohio State came into Autzen Stadium as the No. 2 team in the country, and Will Howard played like it, completing 28 of 35 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns, until he looked like he fell under pressure in the final seconds. He did everything he could to keep Ohio State in the game.

The Buckeyes forced the game’s only turnover, and our defense held tough against Oregon’s high-powered offense for the most part. For most of the night, it felt like they had the Ducks right where we wanted them.

But in the end, a few missed opportunities were the difference. After trading leads throughout the game, Ohio State was up 31-29 with less than two minutes to play. They were so close to walking away with the win.

But then Oregon managed to squeeze out a field goal, and even though the Buckeyes fought back on their final drive, the offense stalled just 38 yards from the end zone. The game ended without even a chance for a Hail Mary. That final play breaking down like it did is something that’s going to sting for a while.

What makes it even harder is knowing that in previous years, this loss would’ve been a dagger to their playoff chances. It’s one of those games where you can’t help but wonder, "What if?" We had the talent, the plays, and the opportunities but couldn’t close it out.

As tough as this loss was, Ohio State’s season isn’t over. With the playoff expanding to 12 teams, this isn’t an elimination game. The Buckeyes are still very much alive in the hunt for a national championship. But it’s frustrating, knowing that they were so close to staying undefeated and strengthening our case as the best team in the country.

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This loss hurts. As Buckeye fans, we expect to win these games. But with a talented squad and a lot of season left, Ohio State has everything in front of them. The Buckeyes still control their own destiny and hopefully, this loss fuels a run that ends with a shot at redemption. We all know how good this team is, and now they’ve got something to prove.

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