Ohio State Mascot and Fans Leave Stadium in Third Quarter as Ryan Day Suffers Biggest Career Embarrassment
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Ohio State’s season took a devastating turn in a 41–28 home loss to Oregon, a collapse so severe that fans and the Buckeyes’ mascot abandoned Ohio Stadium midway through the third quarter. The Buckeyes, ranked No.
12 in the College Football Playoff standings before the game, started strong with 174 yards and a 14–0 lead after the first quarter, but Oregon’s offense exploded for 38 unanswered points—its first such outburst against Ohio State since 1999. The Ducks’ 178–17 yardage advantage in the second half sealed the rout, with key plays including a 48-yard touchdown run by Dierre Hill Jr.
and a one-handed grab by Dakorien Moore. The loss drops Ohio State to 6–3 overall and 4–2 in the Big Ten, its first three-loss season since 2011, while also ending any playoff hopes after a dismal second-half performance.
The Buckeyes’ struggles were compounded by the absence of starting quarterback Julian Sayin, who suffered a fractured elbow in the game, forcing true freshman Luke Fahey into his second start of the season.
The defeat marked one of Ryan Day’s most humiliating nights as head coach, with the stadium visibly emptying as Oregon’s lead ballooned. Social media posts from reporters captured fans streaming out of Ohio Stadium well before the final quarter, underscoring the magnitude of the collapse.
Oregon’s turnaround began in the second quarter when a deep pass play set up a touchdown, and the Ducks never looked back, outscoring Ohio State 38–14 in the second half alone. The Buckeyes’ defense, which had dominated early, completely unraveled, allowing Oregon to dictate the pace with ease.
With the loss, Ohio State’s playoff hopes are effectively over, leaving the program to regroup after a season that has already seen multiple setbacks.
