Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer did not hold back in criticizing the Buckeyes after their 30-18 upset loss to USC, pointing to penalties and overall effort rather than the quarterback change as the main problems.
Meyer made the comments Monday on the Triple Option podcast while reacting to Saturday’s game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
“I’ll tell you if I’m the head coach and I’m on that staff I’m so pissed off at the rest of the team,” Meyer said. “I mean how do you do that. [11] penalties. That has nothing to do with the quarterback situation. Dropping balls, yes it was raining, yes it was windy, and yes there were all kind of excuses why you dropped the ball but you’ve got a backup quarterback. And the message’s gotta be in that locker room that we all have to play our best version of ourselves.”
The No. 2 Buckeyes dropped to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the Big Ten with the defeat.
True freshman Luke Fahey made his first career start in place of injured quarterback Julian Sayin. Fahey completed 21 of 38 passes for 260 yards and one touchdown.
Ohio State still outgained USC 464 yards to 338 and led 25-14 in first downs while controlling the ball for 39 minutes and 28 seconds to the Trojans’ 20:32.
Both teams lost one fumble, and the Buckeyes were flagged 11 times for 75 yards.
Those penalties and execution issues in the red zone kept Ohio State from capitalizing on its statistical advantages.
Meyer also expressed some hope for the rest of the season.
“The good news is are they good enough to keep going? Absolutely. Four games left, three at home, if they win out, they’re in Indianapolis.”
Ohio State fell nine spots to No. 11 in the latest Associated Press rankings, its lowest position since 2021. The Buckeyes sit at No. 10 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
They host Oregon on Saturday at Ohio Stadium, then face Northwestern at home, travel to Nebraska and close the regular season against Michigan.
A win in all four remaining games would put them in the Big Ten championship game and keep College Football Playoff hopes alive.
USC improved to 7-2 with the victory. Quarterback Jayden Maiava threw for 222 yards and a touchdown, and the Trojans added two rushing scores.
Fans rushed the field after the final whistle in one of the bigger upsets of the season so far.
Ohio State had not lost two games this early in a season since 2011. The margin for error is now essentially gone if the Buckeyes hope to reach Indianapolis and the playoff.
