Key Ohio State starter makes stunning admission about fear of playing on national stage against Oregon

The focus of Ohio State vs. Oregon will be on the trenches as each team looks to find an edge in this powerhouse matchup. Oregon has struggled to stop the run, and the Buckeyes hold the advantage across the advanced metrics board.

This game will come down to confident playmaking and consistency. Winning on this big of a stage will propel 2025 NFL Draft stocks for individuals and College Football Playoff advantages for programs. Forget criticism of how the playoff has diminished these games; the race to reach the Big Ten title game could be decided this weekend.

However, Buckeyes right tackle Josh Fryar apparently isn't thinking about the opportunity in front of him as a good thing.

When asked about playing in a big game on a national broadcast, Fryar responded candidly and honestly, "I don't like it on national television because if you get messed up, everybody knows—the reporters, the announcers, everybody."

While the start of Fryar's answer is quite jarring because it comes across as self-awareness and fear of making a mistake, he continued with a more balanced take.

"At the same time, you gotta embrace it, too. I think last year, personally, when it was a big game, I would kind of shy away from it. But now I feel more experienced and ready to play the game. It's a cool environment because you never get to experience something like this in your life again."

Fryar, a fifth-year senior in his second full season as the starter, is coming off a solid 2023 campaign. He's not graded as well in 2024 despite the Buckeyes' offense reaching new heights. He allowed five sacks and eight more pressures last season but was graded as an above-average run blocker in 2023.

This year, he has seen only one sack and two more pressures through five games, but PFF has rated him as an average blocker in pass protection and run blocking. He recovered from bad showings against Marshall and Michigan State with a much better outing versus Iowa.

Related: Oregon Ducks can create a mismatch for breakout star Jordan Burch against Ohio State by lining him up at one specific spot

With Jordan Burch set to line up against Fryar a good amount, the senior must be sharp and ready for this challenge. If he's not, the Buckeyes' passing game, in particular, is vulnerable. Fans have sounded off about concerns over Fryar's response, and I don't blame them.