Oregon erased a 14-point first-quarter deficit to defeat Ohio State 41-28 at Ohio Stadium on November 7, 2026, handing the Buckeyes their second consecutive loss and dealing a severe blow to their College Football Playoff hopes.
The No. 23 Oregon Ducks fell behind 14-0 in the opening quarter after the No. 12 Ohio State Buckeyes came out firing following a loss to the USC Trojans the previous week. Instead of folding, Oregon responded with 38 unanswered points to seize control of the game in Columbus, Ohio. Oregon head coach Dan Lanning walked the sideline as the Oregon Ducks faced the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Oregon Executes Bold Fake Punt to Spark Second-Quarter Rally
The turning point arrived before halftime when Oregon head coach Dan Lanning dialed up a high-risk fake punt on fourth-and-10 from the Ducks’ 37-yard line. Linebacker Teitum Tuioti took the snap and threw to edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei for a 30-yard gain. Four plays later, Dierre Hill Jr. ran for a nine-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 14-10, as reported by Limaohio.
TOUCHDOWN. Brandon Smith from 15 yards to make it 38-14!#GoDucks pic.twitter.com/BfLL0paKx3
— https://x.com/oregonfootball/status/2119213008828383321
Shortly after, freshman quarterback Luke Fahey threw an interception near midfield. Oregon capitalized immediately when Jamari Johnson scored on a two-yard run to give the Ducks a 17-14 lead just before the break, according to Limaohio.
Oregon outgained Ohio State 178-17 in the second quarter alone, according to EssentiallySports. The bleeding continued into the second half when Hill scampered 48 yards for a touchdown. Dakorien Moore caught a one-handed score, and Brandon Smith took a screen pass 15 yards to stretch the lead to 38-14, as detailed by Fox News and EssentiallySports. By the third quarter, despondent fans and even Ohio State’s mascot had stopped watching and began leaving the stadium.
Ryan Day looks on during Oregon's gutsy fake punt. pic.twitter.com/8qp0nIsAgr
— https://x.com/CBSSportsCFB/status/2119194640007983353
Ryan Day Confronts Evaluating Everything After Unacceptable Loss
Ohio State dropped to 6-3 overall and 4-2 in Big Ten play, marking their first three-loss season since 2011, as noted by Land-Grant Holy Land. Playing without injured quarterback Julian Sayin—who suffered a fractured right elbow against Indiana on October 17—the Buckeyes struggled on the ground with only 53 rushing yards on 21 attempts, failing on all four fourth-down tries, according to Land-Grant Holy Land and Limaohio.
Observers inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center watched an uninspired performance unfold under the lights.
We didn’t expect any of this to happen,
Ryan Day, Ohio State coach
Day told reporters after the game that his team must evaluate everything and take full accountability for the downward spiral, pointing out that losing three games in a single season falls well below program standards, according to Elevenwarriors. Meanwhile, across the country in Baton Rouge, La., Alabama defeated LSU 31-13.
To lose three games is unacceptable, and I own that. That’s never going to change from my point of view.
Ryan Day, Ohio State coach
Dan Lanning Praises Resilience as Ducks Improve to Six Wins
For Oregon, quarterback Dylan Raiola completed 25 of 40 passes for 257 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Ducks improve to 6-3 overall and 4-2 in the conference, as noted by Sporting News and EssentiallySports. Head coach Dan Lanning praised his roster’s competitive drive following the hard-fought road victory.
This is an Ohio State game with 12 minutes left. Good job, good effort pic.twitter.com/eAf4dPrtpP
— https://x.com/JuckOnBucks/status/2119213667682226347
Jeremiah Smith expressing his frustration. This was his first catch since the 1st quarter. pic.twitter.com/Se64KiZuMA
— https://x.com/CBSSportsCFB/status/2119210976947933561
Yeah, we’re like cockroaches, man. We won’t die,
Dan Lanning, Oregon coach
More on College Football Playoff
Jeremiah Smith drops it pic.twitter.com/H3YU4CrJVS
— https://x.com/GrantReacts1/status/2119181003252207906
Jeremiah Smith with a touchdown and a stepover pic.twitter.com/o2KWZi7yKd
— https://x.com/CBSSportsCFB/status/2119219814740656246
DUCKS WIN! Oregon scores 38 unanswered points to storm back from a 14-0 deficit and knock off No. 12 Ohio State at The 'Shoe. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/1NHTWvE6nZ
— https://x.com/oregonfootball/status/2119225146770895261