Worst Buckeyes beatdown this season? That Michigan game, for sure. Not only did they drop 4 straight rivalry matchups, but they were so close to losing their shot at the playoffs. After their decisive 42-17 victory over Tennessee, they could finally breathe easy. Now, they are heading into a highly anticipated matchup against the top-ranked team this season, the Oregon Ducks, with nothing left but immense gratitude and a newfound sense of enlightenment. It seems like Ohio State is finally finding its rhythm, don’t you think?

Well, the past is past, and now it’s time for the Ohio State team to make their stance clear on whether they are the suckers in the game or real game-changers. It’s evident that losing a game with just a 1-point margin is not all vanilla, especially when you give it your hundred percent. But then it’s a fact that the biggest fight is always within yourself, not with anyone else. And Will Howard isn’t afraid to shout that from the rooftops.

At the Rose Bowl press conference, Will Howard got real as he said, “I don’t think anyone this year bested us. I think we beat ourselves every time.” He pointed out costly turnovers in their own 20-yard line, saying, “They got the kick, that’s two possessions they stole in the first half. And obviously, the way the game ended, we were still one point away.” It’s clear that the loss in Eugene still stings, but honestly, who cares about emotions now?

As fans are quick to take up the charge and start giving a hard time to Will Howard over his stance, saying, “Who cares? It’s a LOSS! Stop making excuses, Will! Now is the time to show up. Earn your NIL $” The dude’s got the skills, and it’s clear he’s putting in the work. Sometimes, it’s not all about just one game or one loss; it’s about how you bounce back. Moreover, it’s not like Howard did nothing for the team when they needed him the most.

So, here’s how it went down: After getting the Buckeyes in position for a possible game-winning field goal, a penalty against Jeremiah Smith for an offensive pass pushed the Buckeyes back 43 yards. Now this put immense pressure over Will Howard’s shoulders by forcing him to go 3rd and 20 at the Ducks’ 38-yard line with just six seconds left. But Howard takes off, charges up the middle, and slides for a 12-yard gain, but the clock’s already hit zero.

Those were the moments when the Buckeyes totally lost hope. Even Will Howard wasn’t immune to the feels; he’s still feeling that loss big time as he says, “I still have nightmares about that play. I’m thankful that we even get a chance to go out there and play these guys again. The way we lost that game, it still hurts.” The discussion would’ve focused on something else if not for the penalties that skewed the game in the Ducks’ favor.

Fans raging over Will Howard’s opinion

Yes, it’s true that the Buckeyes messed up their game pretty badly against Michigan; they just limited them to 77 rushing yards on 26 carries, but then let’s not forget what they did against Tennessee. Ryan Day’s team let them score just 17 points! So making such comments like, “Oregon and Michigan beat you, homie,” doesn’t really help much, as even after so much hate and backlash, the team stood up strong and showed what they are capable of.

The Oregon game was definitely a tough one for the Buckeyes. Those penalties and 496 yards of offense given up really hurt. But you have to give them credit; they didn’t just fold. They showed some real grit and fought back despite all the obstacles. However, this Instagram user isn’t having it. They bluntly stated, “Nah, Oregon and Michigan beat you.” And they have a point—losing to 7-5 Michigan is arguably the worst thing that happened to Ohio State this season.

This has to be the most interesting comment: “OSU has become such a clown show… They really think they can never lose… That’s why they are melting down after 0-4. Go Blue.” Well, whether they win or lose, Ohio State is in the playoffs competing for the championship, so you can bully Ryan Day or challenge his team, but you can’t ignore the fact that the spotlight is on them.

The most delusional comment till now, where the fan says, “OSU had a culture of excuse-making and not accepting the reality of who they really are. This is why they won’t improve and won’t win the natty.” But let’s talk about this: After that blowout against Oregon in October, this defense completely turned it around. In 12 games, they never gave up more than 17 points or 273 yards. That’s impressive! However, all that hard work could be overshadowed if they don’t beat Oregon this time.