Ohio State is 1-3 in its last four games, and Ryan Day needs to provide some answers — fast

On September 12, 2026, Ohio State faced Texas in a close college football game. The Buckeyes led 20-3 at halftime and 23-3 early in the third quarter, but Texas came back to score three touchdowns in a row, eventually beating Ohio State 24-23. This loss is among the worst of Ryan Day's coaching tenure, second only to a 13-10 defeat to Michigan in 2024.

The Buckeyes struggled in several areas during the game. They only scored three points and 132 total yards in the second half, while Texas scored touchdowns on three straight possessions. Ohio State had only three points and 132 total yards in the second half, with no successful scoring drives. Poor red zone performance and clock management were key factors in the loss.

Texas benefited from a fumble that gave them a red zone trip right away, and Day's group ended up with a 26-yard field goal. The Buckeyes struggled to score in the red zone, netting only 13 points on their first four trips to the area. Day made a poor decision by not calling a timeout to allow Texas to score, which left Ohio State with limited time and chances to respond.

Special teams also played a significant role in Ohio State's defeat. Connor Hawkins, the team's kicker, missed a potential game-tying 45-yard field goal with 4:21 remaining. Additionally, the Buckeyes' punting game was terrible, with Joe McGuire ranking 109th in FBS in punting. Ohio State now faces a challenging situation, as they have lost three of their last four games.

Despite having a few tune-up games before their next matchup against Indiana on October 17, it remains unclear if Day will make the necessary changes to improve the team's performance. The Buckeyes continue to lose the same types of games in the same ways, and Day has yet to find a real solution to the issues plaguing his program.