#12 Ohio State Buckeyes will host the #23 Oregon Ducks on Saturday at 3:30 pm in Ohio Stadium. After losing to USC 30-18 on the road last Saturday, the second loss of the season for the Buckeyes, there is no longer any margin for error. Ohio State must win this game. It is a good thing the Ducks are coming into this game with significant injuries and are not as good as they were supposed to be.
Oregon, as it prepares to face the #12 Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus this coming weekend, is very injured. In fact, how injured the Ducks are is a major story. The most important injury is to Oregon quarterback Dante Moore. The presumptive top pick in the NFL draft in 2027 suffers a head injury and is out for the season. There are more injuries for the Ducks; do you know about them?
#12 Ohio State Buckeyes host #23 Oregon Ducks 5 Things
Here are 5 things to get you ready for the #12 Ohio State Buckeyes hosting the #23 Oregon Ducks. Ohio State is a 9.5-point favorite.
Fahey: Is He Good Enough?
This game will mark the second start for young quarterback Luke Fahey. He is subbing in for injured Ohio State starter Julian Sayin. To say his first start at USC was not good would be an understatement. The #12 Ohio State Buckeyes are hoping he can do better in his second start. Meanwhile, Oregon will have its own backup at quarterback as Dominick Raiola is replacing injured Dante Moore. Raiola is familiar to the Buckeyes, as he was the starting quarterback at Nebraska before he transferred. So far this season, On the year, Raiola has gone 96-for-145 on passing attempts for 1,097 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions.
Oregon Struggling and Failing to Meet Expectations
Before the season, Oregon was a trendy pick to win the national championship. The problems are twofold. First, the Ducks lost both of their offensive and defensive coordinators. They hired replacements from within. That did not work out at all, as the team is struggling on both sides of the ball. Second, the team has significant injuries. That starts with quarterback Dante Moore. However, they will also be missing running back Jordon Davison.
Oregon Is Dangerous
Despite these injuries, Oregon is dangerous as they prepare to take on the #12 Ohio State Buckeyes. On the defensive side of the ball, keep an eye on defensive tackle Bear Alexander. He has 39 total tackles and 2.5 sacks, and is joined on the defensive line by end Matayo Uiagalelei. In the secondary, look out for Minnesota transfer safety Koi Perich. He leads the way with 53 total tackles, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery. Brandon Finney is one of the best young cornerbacks in the nation (one of the others is Ohio State’s Devin Sanchez). Finney has 28 total tackles and six pass breakups this season after a standout freshman campaign in 2025.
Despite the injuries at quarterback and running back, Oregon still has plenty of skill players on offense as they prepare to face the #12 Ohio State Buckeyes. That starts with dangerous wide receivers Dakorien Moore and Evan Stewart. The tandem has combined for 72 catches, 968 yards, and 10 touchdowns.
Cardale Jones
Former Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones is going to ring the victory bell before the game for the Buckeyes. That has become a nice tradition at Ohio Stadium. Jones is an ironic bell ringer, as he is noted as a third-string quarterback who had to play because of injury and won a National Championship. Fahey, too, is starting due to an injured starting quarterback.
Conclusion: A Must Win
The game between the #12 Ohio State Buckeyes and the #23 Oregon Ducks is interesting because it is a must-win for both teams. With two losses, Ohio State clearly needs to win. Oregon has three losses, and looks to get back in the playoff picture as they are now ranked #23 and are on the outside of the playoff picture lookin in.
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