No. 2 Ohio State suffers first loss of the season, losing 32-31 to No. 3 Oregon
David DeGuzman
EUGENE, Ore. (WCMH/AP) — In one of the most highly anticipated contests on the college football schedule this season, Ohio State suffered its first loss of the season after a back-and-forth battle with Oregon, falling 32-31, at Autzen Stadium.
Penalties made a difference in the final drive of the game. With Ohio State trailing by one and needing to get in field goal range, Will Howard connected with Emeka Egbuka for 26-yards to get the Buckeyes to the 28-yard line. But then an offensive pass interference by Jeremiah Smith pushed the Buckeyes to the 43-yard line. An illegal substitution helped the Buckeyes get five yards closer but on the final play of the game, Howard ran for 12 yards before going down with no time left.
The drive marked a disappointing end to what was an otherwise strong offensive performance from Howard, who completed 28 of 35 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns. Howard and Quinshon Judkins added a pair of scores on the ground in the back-and-forth contest.
But in the end Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel outdueled Howard, throwing two touchdown passes and running for another to power the Ducks to a 6-0 start in their first season in the Big Ten.
In front of a stadium record crowd of 60,129, Gabriel scored on 27-yard keeper early in the fourth quarter to give Oregon a 29-28 lead. But Ohio State (5-1, 2-1) responded with a clock-eating drive that ended with Jayden Fielding’s 40-yard field goal that made it 31-29 with six minutes to go.
A pass-interference call got the Ducks to Ohio State’s 9. But after three tries to get into the end zone, Oregon settled for Atticus Sappington’s 19-yard field goal and a 32-21 lead with 1:47 left.
The top three showdown was the first between the two schools in Eugene since 1967 and marked Ohio State’s second straight loss in the series history with the Ducks.
The Buckeyes fall to 5-1 on the season and now head into their second bye week of the season before resuming action at home against Nebraska on October 26.
Second half photo gallery
EUGENE, OREGON – OCTOBER 12: Will Howard #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes slides as time runs out during the fourth quarter of the game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. The Oregon Ducks won 32-31. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR – OCTOBER 12: Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day walks off the field after the game during a college football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Oregon Ducks on October 12, 2024, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.(Photo by Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON – OCTOBER 12: Quarterback Will Howard #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes sits with the ball as time expires against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON – OCTOBER 12: Fans storm the field after the Oregon Ducks defeat the Ohio State Buckeyes 31-32 at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON – OCTOBER 12: Quarterback Will Howard #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs with the ball as time expires against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON – OCTOBER 12: Fans storm the field after the Oregon Ducks defeat the Ohio State Buckeyes 31-32 at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR – OCTOBER 12: Oregon Ducks defensive lineman Derrick Harmon (55) pressures Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) during a college football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Oregon Ducks on October 12, 2024, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.(Photo by Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON – OCTOBER 12: Jeremiah Smith #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes catches a pass against Jabbar Muhammad #7 of the Oregon Ducks for a first down during the third quarter at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON – OCTOBER 12: Jeremiah Smith #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates his touchdown catch with teammates during the third quarter against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON – OCTOBER 12: Cody Simon #0 of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts after a defensive stop on fourth down during the third quarter against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON – OCTOBER 12: Terrance Ferguson #3 of the Oregon Ducks runs the ball after a catch against Cody Simon #0 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the second half at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON – OCTOBER 12: Head coach Dan Lanning of the Oregon Ducks reacts after the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. The Oregon Ducks won 32-31. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
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First half photo gallery
EUGENE, OREGON – OCTOBER 12: Will Howard #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs the ball for a touchdown during the first quarter of the game of the game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON – OCTOBER 12: Will Howard #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs the ball for a touchdown during the first quarter of the game of the game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON – OCTOBER 12: Lathan Ransom #8 of the Ohio State Buckeyes intercepts a errant pass in the end zone from Luke Dunne #45 of the Oregon Ducks during the first quarter of the game at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON – OCTOBER 12: Evan Stewart #7 of the Oregon Ducks catches a pass for a touchdown against Denzel Burke #10 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the second quarter at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON – OCTOBER 12: Traeshon Holden #1 of the Oregon Ducks runs the ball after a catch during the second quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON – OCTOBER 12: Will Kacmarek #89 of the Ohio State Buckeyes catches a pass during the first quarter against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON – OCTOBER 12: Dylan Williams #20 of the Oregon Ducks leaps into the stands before the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON – OCTOBER 12: Will Howard #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes throws the ball during the first quarter of the game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
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Pregame photo gallery
EUGENE, OREGON – OCTOBER 12: Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly (L) of Ohio State Buckeyes speaks with Elliot Hill CEO of Nike before their game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON – OCTOBER 12: A view of an entrance where Ohio State Buckeyes and Oregon Ducks fans enter the stadium before their game at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON – OCTOBER 12: Dillon Gabriel #8 of the Oregon Ducks looks on before the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON – OCTOBER 12: Will Howard #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes walks through the team tunnel before the game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON – OCTOBER 12: Head coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts prior to a game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON – OCTOBER 12: Ohio State Buckeyes fans look on prior to a game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON – OCTOBER 12: Jack Sawyer #33 of the Ohio State Buckeyes warms up on the field prior to a game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON – OCTOBER 12: The Ohio State Buckeyes gather on the field before their game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON – OCTOBER 12: The Ohio State Buckeyes players run on the field before their game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images)
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Scroll below for updates as the game unfolded.
1 year ago
Ohio State fans travel well apparently
ddeguzman
Per Joe Nugent….
1 year ago
Jordan Burch questionable
ddeguzman
Star defensive lineman Jordan Burch is questionable for Oregon according to the latest availability report ahead of tonight’s game. The senior suffered a knee injury in practice on Thursday.
His absence would be a huge blow to the Ducks. Burch has 19 total tackles, seven for a loss and a career-high five sacks.
Here’s a look at the injury report for the Buckeyes.
1 year ago
Hello from Autzen Stadium
ddeguzman
We’re mere moments away from the game of the year (so far). Ohio State and Oregon set to kickoff at 7:30 and remember you can watch all the action on NBC4. We’ll keep you posted on what’s going on here as well. Sports Director Joe Nugent is on-site at Autzen Stadium for all the action.
