EXCUSES?: Ohio State Buckeyes and Ryan Day FACE Criticism, ANALYZE Fourth Quarter Collapse — Locked On Buckeyes - Daily Podcast On Ohio State Buckeyes Football & Basketball

Ohio State Buckeyes’ fourth-quarter collapse against Texas raises big questions about Ryan Day’s play-calling and Arthur Smith’s offensive strategy. Matt Fontana and former Buckeyes QB Justin Zwick break down the coaching decisions that fueled the heartbreaking loss, including critical moments like missed shot plays, conservative third-quarter runs, and the controversial goal-line stand. Is there a real fourth-quarter problem in Columbus, or are fans overreacting to high-stakes letdowns?

Player development and playing time dominate the debate as calls grow for young talents like Riley Pettijohn, Khary Wilder, Legend Bey, and Chris Henry to earn more reps. With roster changes looming ahead of the Buckeyes’ matchup against Kent State, Fontana and Zwick weigh the merits of trusting veterans versus unleashing the next wave of Buckeye stars. The show wraps with an NFL roundup, spotlighting former Buckeyes like JSN, Caleb Downs, and Sonny Styles making headlines on Sundays.

Episode Timestamps

00:00 — Ryan Day Addresses Loss
Discussion on Ryan Day's press conference after the Texas loss; play-calling criticism; reactions to in-game decisions.
13:19 — Personnel & Reps Debate
Debate over playing time for younger Buckeyes, evaluation of defensive/offensive rotations, and opinions on whether Ohio State should have played more backups against Texas.
24:50 — TV Ratings & NFL Buckeyes
Review of Ohio State-Texas TV viewership statistics, plus a roundup of notable NFL performances from former Buckeye players.

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Photo credit: Scott Wachter via Imagn Images

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