No. 12 Ohio State hosts No. 23 Oregon at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 3:30 p.m. ET in a pivotal Week 10 Big Ten matchup. Both teams enter with backup quarterbacks and playoff hopes hanging by a thread after early-season losses.
The game will be televised on CBS and streamed on CBSSports.com, the CBS Sports App, and Paramount+ Premium.
Key Storylines
Ohio State (6-1) fell to No. 12 in the first College Football Playoff rankings following a 30-18 loss at USC. Backup quarterback Luke Fahey makes his second start and first at home after starter Will Howard was lost for the season. The Buckeyes moved the ball well against USC but settled for field goals on four red-zone trips, scoring only 13 points. Red-zone efficiency has been an issue, with just 13 points on three trips against Indiana as well.
Oregon (5-3) saw its playoff dreams end but found offensive life after firing coordinator Drew Mehringer. Interim coordinator Jay Johnson guided freshman Dylan Raiola to his best start in a win over Northwestern. The Ducks stuck with working concepts and played with more aggression, a trend they hope continues against a stout Ohio State defense that can be vulnerable to big plays.
Defensive Opportunities
Ohio State's defense has forced only four interceptions (94th nationally) and 11 total turnovers (48th). Raiola has a history of turnovers dating back to his time at Nebraska, presenting chances for the Buckeyes. Conversely, Oregon has nine interceptions (13th nationally) and could pressure Fahey into early mistakes, potentially altering Ohio State's game plan.
Prediction
CBS Sports analysts lean toward a high-scoring affair, with the consensus pick being OVER 46.5 points. Most experts project Ohio State to cover the 7.5-point spread and win straight up.
