Day urges urgency after Ohio State slip

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day told his team on Tuesday that the urgency level must rise immediately following a 30-18 loss to USC.

The defeat marked the largest margin of loss for the Buckeyes in four years, surpassing the 45-23 result against Michigan on November 26, 2022.

In the contest at LA Memorial Coliseum, Ohio State committed a season-high 11 penalties. The Trojans capitalized on those errors, producing a 69-yard passing touchdown and a 70-yard reception.

Day called the penalties and mistakes ridiculous, stating that the performance indicates the team is not yet where it needs to be.

The coaching staff and players now turn their attention to Saturday's matchup against No. 23 Oregon. The Buckeyes, ranked No. 12, will face a squad that held the No. 1 and No. 2 preseason rankings.

Day acknowledged the quality of the Ducks, noting they possess NFL-level talent, speed at wideout, a strong offensive line, and experienced quarterback Dylan Raiola.

The Buckeyes have lost four of their last ten games, a stretch that includes all four of their remaining regular-season opponents who hold winning records.

Day emphasized that the coaching staff shares the responsibility for the recent struggles. He stated that the process starts with him, moves to the coordinators, and extends to the position coaches.

The coach said the team must fix its issues now, warning that the week will not go well if the current problems persist. He described the need for a higher standard of accountability for every player.

A specific point of frustration for Day is the team's red zone efficiency. Ohio State entered the red zone four times against USC but scored only one touchdown.

This trend has continued across the last four games, where the team has scored seven touchdowns on 16 trips.

Day said the staff is evaluating whether the issues stem from scheme, personnel, or coaching. He admitted that calling the current red zone execution as working well is not accurate.