Ohio State's Rolodex of excuses grows after loss to Oregon

Chris Breiler | Oct 13, 2024

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Another loss, another series of excuses from the Ohio State fan base as to why the Buckeyes couldn't get it done. This time, it came courtesy of a 32-31 loss on Saturday night against Oregon. It was a thrilling game from start to finish, but questionable play calling down the stretch ultimately cost the Buckeyes a shot at a game winning field goal in the fourth quarter. And although there are certainly some legitimate issues that Buckeye fans could point to as reasons why Ohio State took another big loss, many of them have chosen to revert to their old tricks - making excuses.

In the closing seconds of the fourth quarter, OSU QB Will Howard dropped back for a pass and attempted to put the Buckeyes in field goal position. Unable to find anyone open, Howard scrambled out of the pocket and gained 12 yards with his legs before sliding to the ground. It would have been a GREAT play if college football consisted of five quarters, but unfortunately for Howard and Ohio State it's a four quarter game.

WILL HOWARD DOESN'T GO DOWN AND OREGON WINS 😱 pic.twitter.com/hjUVwCzGPE

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 13, 2024

Game over.

Not surprisingly, plenty of Buckeye faithful took to social media following the loss to blame the officials. Shocking, I know.

But this isn't a new pattern from Ohio State's fan base, one that Ryan Day recently referred to as the "standard of excellence" within college football. In fact, this is becoming an annual tradition with the folks down in Columbus. You see, Ohio State never actually loses a game. The Buckeyes either win, or the Buckeyes were cheated.

Let's take a look back at the long list of excuses we've heard from Ohio State fans, dating back to the 2019 season.

2019 vs. Clemson: The refs

This was originally called a catch and fumble return TD, but was overturned as an incomplete pass. #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/3RxiGYTvCv

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 29, 2019

2019 Ohio State vs Clemson was rigged. Refs can’t blow a call that bad without it being rigged.

— DPH (@DPHBuckeyes) July 31, 2024

Ohio State would have beaten LSU and won the 2019 National Championship if Clemson didn’t pay off the refs. https://t.co/QkiXq4LSSL

— Mr. Ohio (@MrOH1O) June 3, 2024

Final Score:

Ohio State: 23
Refs: 22
Clemson: 7

#OSUvsCLEM

— Cyan005 (@Cyan005) December 29, 2019

2021 vs. Michigan: The weather, they were sick, and Michigan cheated

“When you take into consideration what we were going through that week preparing for the team up north and everybody kind of having a flu and things like that – of course, I don’t make excuses, but you’ve got to take that into consideration,” CJ Stroud said. “It kind of does matter."

C.J. Stroud Says He's Not Making Excuses, but Ohio State Players Had the Flu When They Lost to Michigan https://t.co/BzJE8upOVg pic.twitter.com/JdoUp1yEcO

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) December 9, 2021

2022 vs. Michigan: Michigan cheated

Video from last year's OSU vs Michigan game appears to show Connor Stalions who is at the center of the alleged sign stealing operation standing next to the UM defensive coordinator.

See their pre-snap interaction:

Here is better quality video and story https://t.co/aOX1HCRdmN: pic.twitter.com/Q6nNYt2t9x

— Adam King (@AdamKing10TV) October 24, 2023

2022 vs. Georgia: The refs, Georgia cheated

#OhioState lost to #Georgia in the semifinal game because the refs and replay officials decided to go woke. pic.twitter.com/6GwDSLapjj

— Message Board Geniuses (@BoardGeniuses) March 24, 2023

#OhioState fan is concerned that #Georgia has spies in Mercedes-Benz Stadium pic.twitter.com/X14Eh29P13

— Message Board Geniuses (@BoardGeniuses) December 28, 2022

2023 vs. Michigan: Michigan cheated

Don’t let all of this transfer portal news distract from the fact that Michigan cheated. pic.twitter.com/ItzBpkRzjN

— Mr. Ohio (@MrOH1O) December 7, 2023

So many UM fans on here crying and arguing with people who are posting the truth—Michigan cheated for 3 years! You can’t erase that. Your wins are tainted forever. People will always remember this as the year that cheaters were allowed to be in the playoffs. ****** pic.twitter.com/n0oetHAWWS

— meg (@meg99806379) January 9, 2024

2024 vs. Oregon: The refs

The loss sucks, but it’s rough knowing that Inniss was signaling for a timeout after Howard gave himself up, with 1 second left, and the timeout wasnt awarded. pic.twitter.com/00Dl50sczi

— Mr. Ohio (@MrOH1O) October 13, 2024

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