‘That can’t be your game plan with Jeremiah Smith’: Joel Klatt does not hold back on Ohio State

Ohio State Buckeyes suffered a 30-18 defeat to USC at the Coliseum, marking their second loss of the 2026 season. Fox college football analyst Joel Klatt expressed strong criticism of the team's performance on his show. Ohio State entered the game at 6-1 without starting quarterback Julian Sayin, who was injured two weeks prior.

Luke Fahey, a first-year true freshman, made his debut and completed 21 of 38 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown. Running back Bo Jackson contributed 121 rushing yards. Despite Ohio State's strong running game, Klatt felt the team's overall performance was lacking. He specifically criticized the offensive line, stating that they struggled in pass protection, which allowed USC to score on their second play.

The special teams and defense also had issues, with Klatt noting that the latter gave up a couple of crucial plays. Klatt was particularly harsh on the offensive line, which had the third-highest pressure rate of the Ryan Day era. He questioned whether the game plan utilized star receiver Jeremiah Smith effectively, recalling that the quarterback only threw to him once downfield.

Klatt emphasized that Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State's top weapon, needed more opportunities regardless of the quarterback. The analyst concluded that offensive line play and the utilization of Smith needed significant improvement.