Oregon reveals concerns about Ohio State football in Week 7 loss

The Ohio State Buckeyes suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Oregon Ducks in Week 7 of the 2024 college football season, 32-31.

While the offense came up short in the final minutes of the contest despite having prime field position, there were multiple concerns with the Buckeyes that surfaced throughout the contest. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly’s unit was able to find success on most occasions, but it was a failure of the overall defense that led to the downfall of the No. 2 team in the country.

Heading into the Week 7 matchup, the Buckeyes led all FBS teams in points allowed per game at 6.8 and yards allowed per game at 202.4. That wasn’t the case against Oregon, as the defense allowed nearly 500 yards of total offense.

A major cause of the defensive disappointment during Saturday’s contest with the inability to contain Oregon’s wide receivers. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel threw for 338 yards and two touchdowns, while Tez Johnson and Evan Stewart combined for 14 catches and 224 yards receiving.

Denzel Burke, the Buckeyes’ top cornerback, was the primary defender against the Ducks’ top receivers and matched up with Stewart and Johnson on most of the two’s big plays.

Burke might have had a tough game against a talented group of Oregon players, but Ohio State’s front seven couldn’t stop the run or pressure Gabriel.

Running back Jordan James finished with 23 carries for 115 yards and a touchdown, while Gabriel had a 27-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. The combination of James and Gabriel as a threat on the floor opened up Oregon’s passing game. Along with the Ducks running game on point, Oregon’s veteran quarterback had a clean pocket for most of the game as the Buckeyes didn’t record a sack.

Moving forward, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles must make adjustments to his starting lineup. The lack of forced pressure and players in positions that create mismatches will need to be addressed in order for the Buckeyes to bounce back.