Social Reactions: The Bucks Got the Breaks and Still Lost to the Ducks, Which Adds Up to Some Big Questions

Everyone and their mother and their mother's best friend's dog had the Oregon game circled as a potential loss from the beginning of the season. Dan Lanning has them playing at a super high level, it was going to be on the road in a tough environment, and the Oregon offense seemed uniquely well-suited to attack the Ohio State defense.

And yet! This loss still feels pretty terrible, and I think it's because there were so many points in the game against the Ducks on Saturday where a different outcome would've directly led to an Ohio State win. Some of them were stupid and pure chance (a ridiculous onside kick conversion, a terrible offensive pass interference call), but the truth is that unlike in a lot of high profile Ohio State losses, the Buckeyes did get some breaks.

All they needed to do was to come through at any number of critical points in the game... and they didn't. That's going to sting, because this is a team built to win those moments. That they missed on key third downs, made mental errors at critical points, and couldn't convert when given an advantage is more worrisome than losing a single game: it throws the whole narrative of the season out of whack.

In two weeks they'll have the opportunity to right the ship in the near future, but it's going to take another top-five win to wash away the stink of this particular loss.

THE BUCKEYES

Mad asf
— Jonathon Cooper (@JonathonCooper7) October 13, 2024

Being a sports fan is actually insane if you think about it
— Joshua Perry (@mrjoshuaperry) October 13, 2024

This wasnt on Will Howard. Yes he made a head scratching mistake at the end there but he was only in that situation because the Buckeye defense gave up almost 500 yards of offense and couldnt get stops or pressure on Dillon when it counted. Gotta get better on the bye week boys
— JAY RICHARDSON (@JayRichardson99) October 13, 2024

Congrats on the win. See you in the playoffs. #GoBucks
— Troy Smith (@yn_TroySmith) October 13, 2024

We gotta stop this rhetoric and mindset of abandoning ship in adversity like seriously Ohio state faithful take a L on the chin and get better !! This sense of perfection in todays college football isnt a death sentence. Just sit in the chair/couch and root for the home team
— DeVier Posey (@DPo8) October 13, 2024

Great game, cant wait for the rematch in Indy
— Cardale Jones (@CJ1two) October 13, 2024

The worst part about this is I have to watch the browns in about 12 hours
— Mountain Man (@moore_of_kollin) October 13, 2024

OKAY, BUT WHAT IF I WANT TO DO THAT?

This was a great ball game. Sloppy at times but nonetheless still good. You had 2 heavyweight teams fighting it out. Thats it. Cant get caught up in the what ifs and bitch/complain.

Look at film, learn, practice and move forward.
— Maurice Clarett (@ReeseClarett13) October 13, 2024

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

The teams take the field. pic.twitter.com/JIdGzxit5s
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) October 12, 2024

Treveyon Henderson is off to the races for @OhioStateFB with this 55 yard run #B1GFootball pic.twitter.com/kWiTDoGUuC
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 13, 2024

Will Howard Emeka Egbuka. pic.twitter.com/HNIF1PDzoE
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 13, 2024

Jeremiah Smith has arrived pic.twitter.com/vJgjUu4cnw
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 13, 2024

Ran the "screw it Jeremiah Smith open down there somewhere" play. pic.twitter.com/5R7QFjkvCD
— Garrick Hodge (@Garrick_Hodge) October 13, 2024

Oregon things: pic.twitter.com/vA2T1hF7Vg
— 97.1 The Fan (@971thefan) October 13, 2024

Gonna get lost in the shuffle but Caleb Downs is an incredible player. Bailed OSU out so many times tonight.
— Ross Fulton (@RossRFulton) October 13, 2024

A common theme in Ohio States last five regular season losses has been lack of pressure.

In the 2 losses to Oregon+3 losses to UM, OSU has gotten a total of 2 sacks in those five games.

Consistent lack of production from a well stocked defensive unit (Harrison, Sawyer, JTT).
— Ben Koo (@bkoo) October 13, 2024

Ryan Day on the Oregon loss:

This one is gonna hurt. It does hurt. Should have won the game. Give Oregon credit. They played well, he said. Too many things we could have done better in the game that we didn't. A lot of football ahead of us. We got to get those things fixed.
— Chase Brown (@chaseabrown__) October 13, 2024