Oregon Breaks Ohio State's 14-Year Record of Limited Losses
A 41-28 defeat ends a streak of 14 straight seasons with no more than two losses and marks the first time the Buckeyes have dropped two regular-season games in a row since 2011.
By Sanjay Caldwell ·
Ohio State lost its 14-year streak of finishing each season with two or fewer regular-season defeats on Saturday. The Buckeyes fell 41-28 to No. 13 Oregon, a result that ends a run tied with Florida State and Notre Dame for the longest such streak in the AP poll era. This loss follows a 30-18 road defeat to No. 20 USC the previous week, meaning Ohio State has now lost two consecutive regular-season games for the first time since November 2011.
The margin of defeat is historically rare for the program. Both of the Buckeyes' losses this season came by double-digit scores. This is their first time losing two consecutive games by at least 10 points since 2004, a span of 8,057 days. In program history, Ohio State has only lost three straight games by double digits once, according to ESPN Research data.
Head coach Ryan Day enters this stretch with a strong record after previous losses. He has gone 5-3 in the games following a defeat since succeeding Urban Meyer in December 2018. However, all three of those previous losses occurred in bowl games, not during the regular season. The current losing streak interrupts a period of 5,467 days and 169 games without back-to-back regular-season losses.
The stretch between the 2011 loss and this season saw Ohio State compile a 171-24 record. That total is the second-most wins of any college football program since the start of the 2012 season. The team also posted an 87.7% win percentage, the best mark of any program during that timeframe. Ohio State won two national championships and four bowl games during that span.
The turning point in Saturday's game arrived late in the second quarter. Facing a fourth-and-9 at its own 31-yard line, Oregon ran a fake punt. Linebacker Teitum Tuioti caught the snap and threw a jump pass to Matayo Uiagalelei. Uiagalelei ran the ball 30 yards for the first down. After that play, Oregon outgained Ohio State 288 to 47 until 12:51 remained in the fourth quarter, when the Ducks led 38-14.
Ohio State entered the game with a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. The Buckeyes had won 140 consecutive home games when leading by at least 14 points. Their last home loss with that margin was against Wisconsin in 2001. They also held a streak of 137 consecutive home victories when leading by double digits, the longest such streak by any team since 2004.
The defense allowed 41 points, the second-most by a Day-coached team at home and the third-most overall. It is the second home game since 2000 in which Ohio State has allowed 40 points. This follows a 30-point performance by USC, ending a streak of 31 games where the Buckeyes held opponents under that mark. Oregon scored 38 unanswered points, the fifth-most consecutive points allowed at Ohio Stadium since it opened in 1922.
Ohio State hosts Northwestern next week. The team has lost three straight games by at least 10 points only twice in its history. The upcoming contest will be the next regular-season game for the Buckeyes.
