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By Bryan Colbert Jr.
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Ohio State’s pass rush is approaching a place no Buckeyes defense has finished since the program began tracking sacks in 1981.
With 11 sacks through nine games, the Buckeyes are on pace to finish the regular season below their lowest recorded season total.
The previous low is 20, reached in both 1982 and 2001, according to Eleven Warriors’ Dan Hope and Matt Gutridge. Those teams averaged approximately 1.7 sacks per game. This year’s defense is averaging about 1.2, leaving Ohio State with three regular-season games to reverse the trend.
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At its current rate, Ohio State would finish a 12-game regular season with approximately 15 sacks. Reaching 20 before the postseason would require nine over the final three games, nearly matching its production from the first nine.
Coach Ryan Day acknowledged the problem Tuesday.
“We’re not getting enough of a pass rush. That’s just the bottom line,” Day said, according to Eleven Warriors.
The latest example came Saturday against Oregon. Ohio State failed to record a sack in a 41-28 home loss, allowing the Ducks to recover from an early two-touchdown deficit and take control.
Dylan Raiola completed 25 of 40 passes for 257 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Oregon finished with 287 passing yards overall and converted eight of 17 third-down attempts, repeatedly extending possessions against a defense unable to finish plays behind the line.
The Buckeyes led 14-0 after the first quarter before Oregon scored 38 consecutive points. Ohio State eventually added two fourth-quarter touchdowns, but the loss dropped the team to 6-3 overall and 4-2 in Big Ten play.
The sack drought extends beyond that game.
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Ohio State has recorded only two sacks over its past four contests, both from defensive backs. Its defensive ends have not produced one during that stretch. Kenyatta Jackson Jr. leads the team with three sacks this season, while linebacker Riley Pettijohn has two.
That puts more pressure on the defense to win individual matchups and force quarterbacks into uncomfortable decisions. Against Oregon, the absence of sacks also came without an interception or a recovered fumble. Ohio State finished the game without a takeaway despite recording nine tackles for loss.
The next opportunity comes Saturday, when the Buckeyes host Northwestern at noon ET on Fox.
Three games remain to improve the regular-season total. After watching Oregon erase a 14-point deficit without surrendering a sack, Ohio State needs that improvement to show up while the outcome is still in doubt.
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