COLUMBUS — In his post-game press conference following the Buckeye’s loss to Oregon, Ohio State Head Coach Ryan Day says he is wanting to better his team.

“We got to do a better job of handling those situations and playing better overall,” Day said. 

In a game marked by seven lead changes, No. 2 Ohio State (5-1, 2-1) lost a nail-biter, 32-31, to No. 3 Oregon (6-0, 3-0) at Autzen Stadium on Saturday.

Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard had an impressive performance, completing 28 of 35 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns, while adding a rushing score.

Despite the strong showing, the Buckeyes couldn’t hold off the Ducks in the final minutes.

Howard’s key targets included Emeka Egbuka, who caught 10 passes for 93 yards and a touchdown, and Jeremiah Smith, who hauled in nine receptions for 100 yards and a score.

Running back TreVeyon Henderson also made a significant impact with 87 yards on 10 carries. Quinshon Judkins added 23 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.

Defensively, Cody Simon led Ohio State with 10 tackles, and Sonny Styles added nine tackles, including six solo efforts.

The game was a back-and-forth battle. Ohio State jumped out to an early 7-0 lead on a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Howard after a 75-yard drive.

Oregon quickly responded but missed the extra point, leaving Ohio State with a 7-6 lead at the end of the first quarter. The teams continued trading blows, with Ohio State holding a slim 28-22 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

Oregon regained the lead early in the fourth with a 27-yard touchdown run by quarterback Dillon Gabriel.

Ohio State briefly went back on top with a 40-yard field goal by Jayden Fielding, making it 31-29. However, a late 19-yard field goal by the Ducks sealed the victory with less than two minutes remaining.

Ohio State had a final chance, moving into Oregon territory with a series of completions, but the Buckeyes ran out of time as Howard’s 12-yard scramble ended the game.

The loss marked Ohio State’s first of the season, as they now look ahead to a bye week before hosting Nebraska on Oct. 26. The game time has yet to be announced.