Oregon and Ohio State clash in Columbus with playoff hopes on the line
Both teams lost their starting quarterbacks this season and are fighting to stabilize their records before the College Football Playoff rankings solidify.
By Ryan Carter ·
Two college football teams that lost their starting quarterbacks this season will meet at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
The matchup between No. 23 Oregon and No. 12 Ohio State was anticipated early in the season as a potential contest for a College Football Playoff bye. That status has changed. Both programs are now playing to prevent their seasons from collapsing.
The timeline of the current roster situation began with the departure of key signal callers. Oregon’s offense struggled all season until the firing of offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer. Interim coordinator Jay Johnson took over and guided the team to a win against Northwestern last week. Quarterback Dylan Raiola threw for a career-best performance in that game. His success has given the Ducks confidence in their ability to compete on the road.
Ohio State faces a similar challenge. The Buckeyes lost to USC 30-18 last week. Backup quarterback Luke Fahey will make his second start of the season and his first at home. He enters the game after throwing for 260 yards and rushing for 4.74 yards per carry in the loss to the Trojans. The team is currently ranked No. 12 in the first College Football Playoff rankings. That position places them on the verge of being cut from the 12-team field.
Ohio State’s offense has moved the ball well but struggled to finish drives. The team entered the red zone four times against USC and scored only 13 points. A similar pattern occurred against Indiana, where three red zone trips yielded 13 points. Fahey must improve his accuracy in short yardage situations to keep the Ducks at bay. The rushing attack also needs to sustain drives to limit Oregon’s opportunities.
Oregon’s defense offers a potential advantage. The Ducks have recorded nine interceptions this season, ranking 13th in the country. Fahey is a freshman, and the Ducks aim to force early mistakes that could disrupt the Buckeyes’ game plan. Conversely, Ohio State has forced 11 total turnovers, ranking 48th nationally. They have only four interceptions, ranking 94th, and will look to target Raiola, who has a history of turnovers. The Buckeyes hope to strip the ball or intercept passes to spark their own offense.
The winner of the game will enter the final stretch of the season with renewed stability. The loser will face difficult questions about their future. The game is broadcast on CBS and streamed on the CBS Sports App and Paramount+ Premium.
SportsLine’s computer model simulated this game 10,000 times and predicts an over of 46.5 points. The model suggests that both teams will take risks in the passing game, leading to a high scoring affair despite the defensive presence of both sides.
