COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Oregon put Ohio State's playoff aspirations on life support Saturday with a resounding 41-28 victory at the Horseshoe, handing the Buckeyes back-to-back double-digit losses for the first time in 22 years.
Ohio State (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten) has three losses in a season for the first time in head coach Ryan Day's tenure and the first time overall since 2011.
"Not someplace we thought we'd be," Day said. "Beyond disappointed."
The Buckeyes, who debuted at No. 12 in last week's initial College Football Playoff rankings, now face long odds of earning an at-large playoff berth or reaching the Big Ten championship game, even if they win their final three regular-season games.
"I just told the team in the locker room that now we've got to weather this storm," Day said. "And it'll be a storm here, something that none of us are used to at Ohio State."
The Buckeyes jumped to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, then fell apart.
Oregon's successful fake punt in the second quarter helped swing momentum, as the Ducks scored 38 straight points. According to ESPN Research, it was the most consecutive points the Buckeyes had allowed at Ohio Stadium since Wisconsin scored 42 straight in 1999.
Oregon outgained Ohio State 295-39 over the second and third quarters and led 38-14 early in the fourth quarter following Dylan Raiola's 15-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Smith.
The Buckeyes turned the ball over on downs on four straight possessions in the second half, as they desperately tried to keep pace with the Ducks.
True freshman quarterback Luke Fahey made his second consecutive start in place of injured Ohio State starter Julian Sayin, who remains out indefinitely with an injury to his throwing arm.
Fahey passed for 360 yards, but more than half came in the fourth quarter after the game was out of reach.
Fahey also threw an interception with 1:06 remaining in the first half, setting up Oregon's go-ahead touchdown on the final play before halftime. The Ducks took over on their own 41-yard line and scored on tight end Jamari Johnson's 2-yard plunge up the middle with no time remaining.
"The kid is trying his tail off," Day said of Fahey. "It's a tough spot to be in for a true freshman, but the expectation is to come in and play and win."
The Buckeyes also failed to target star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith in the second quarter and for much of the third as the game slipped away.
Fahey finally went Smith's way on fourth-and-2 with 3:45 remaining in the third quarter. But Oregon defensive tackle D'Antre Robinson batted the pass down at the line of scrimmage.
"We were able to get no rhythm on offense," Day said when asked why Ohio State struggled to get Smith the ball. "That put the defense in some tough situations.
"So I've got to evaluate everything. ... It all starts with the staff and then it goes to the players. There needs to be accountability for all of it."
