Oregon revealed what should be the biggest strength of Ohio State football.

EUGENE, Ore. — Ohio State’s defense received a lot of praise during the offseason, and it was well-deserved. However, that is no longer the case.

It was reasonable to view a unit with so much returning talent and experience as potentially historic, one that no offense could breach. It was also reasonable to believe that passing against this defense would be ill-advised due to the formidable talent in the secondary.

Furthermore, it was expected that the front seven would apply significant pressure; even if the linebackers were inexperienced, they showed great potential. With a few games under their belt, they should have been ready by the time OSU faced Oregon.

The Buckeyes lost that edge of credibility on Saturday night with a 32-31 defeat, during which it seemed the Ducks could do as they pleased. Dillon Gabriel appeared unaffected by a defensive line packed with highly rated recruits who had significant game experience.

The defensive backs, particularly Denzel Burke, often seemed outmatched against wide receivers who had not previously demonstrated any real ability to pose a deep threat. Despite this, Gabriel easily connected for 341 passing yards and two touchdowns, in addition to a 27-yard rushing touchdown. Moreover, the frequent substitutions on the defensive line were perplexing and might deserve their own separate discussion at some point.

This defense was expected to be the foundation of an Ohio State team aiming for a national title in 2024. Instead, it has spent several weeks revealing potential weaknesses that we might have overlooked, and it took a worthy opponent to exploit those flaws.

We are in a new era of college football. This loss doesn’t end the Buckeyes’ aspirations; it just makes their path more challenging, especially with Oregon now taking a strong lead in the Big Ten standings. The conference is now being led by a team that has only played three games within it. This defense has not lived up to the preseason hype. As we reach the halfway point of the season and approach a second bye week, it’s crucial to recognize this reality.

Jim Knowles’ unit can no longer expect the benefit of the doubt. When the Buckeyes return to action on October 26 against Nebraska, they will need to reestablish themselves as an elite defense. No more discussing how good this group might be; it’s time for them to go out and prove it.