COLUMBUS, Ohio — No. 11 Ohio State hosts unranked Oregon on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Ohio Stadium in a game that bears little resemblance to the No. 1-versus-No. 2 showdown preseason polls promised, but still carries College Football Playoff implications for both teams, according to 247Sports.
The Buckeyes and Ducks debuted at the top of the initial AP Poll, both carrying national championship hopes, 247Sports reported. Two months later, Ohio State is 6-2 and ranked No. 11, while Oregon is 5-3 and unranked, according to Autzen Zoo. Neither team is ranked inside the top 10.
Quarterback injuries have reshaped the matchup. Ohio State starter Julian Sayin and Oregon starter Dante Moore, both preseason Heisman Trophy betting favorites, are out with injuries, 247Sports reported. Ohio State is relying on freshman Luke Fahey, while Oregon has turned to Dylan Raiola, whose play 247Sports described as hot and cold.
Fahey finished 21-of-30 for 260 yards and a touchdown in Ohio State’s 30-18 loss at USC, a late Jeremiah Smith touchdown making the final score look closer, according to Autzen Zoo. Oregon, meanwhile, beat Northwestern behind Raiola after firing offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer and turning play-calling over to Jay Johnson, a change Autzen Zoo reported pushed the Ducks past 20 points for the first time since September.
Despite Ohio State’s struggles in its first full game without Sayin, oddsmakers opened the Buckeyes as 10.5-point favorites, with a points total of 44.5, according to FanDuel Sportsbook odds reported by Autzen Zoo. Both 247Sports and Autzen Zoo expect a lower-scoring game defined by the two defenses rather than the shootout fans expected in August.
The playoff math is narrow but not closed. As of Sunday, only three undefeated teams and seven one-loss Power Four teams remain, 247Sports reported, so a two-loss Ohio State team could still reach the 12-team field, and Oregon could keep a path alive with a win in Columbus and three more wins after it.
Recruiting adds another layer, with signing day about six weeks away: Oregon’s class is currently ranked No. 2 in the country and Ohio State’s is sixth, according to 247Sports, and recruits in attendance at Ohio Stadium will see the significance of a win up close.
What happens next is Saturday’s kickoff in Columbus — 12:30 p.m. Pacific, on CBS, according to the Big Ten’s announced schedule reported by Yardbarker. A game not yet played is decided on the field, and Saturday will show which backup quarterback, and which defense, handles the moment better.
Photo: Lectrician2, CC BY-SA