Parker: Does Ohio State have an Oregon problem?

COLUMBUS — There are two answers to that question for Ohio State.

Yes. Or, yes, but it’s not as bad as it may seem right now.

Oregon landed five-star Shaker Heights (Ohio) safety Trey McNutt on Saturday Shaker Heights High School is 143.1 miles away from the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. It’s 2,473.6 miles away from the University of Oregon. Five years ago, the Ducks wouldn’t have stepped foot into the Buckeye State. McNutt would have been committed to Ohio State months ago.

But as we all learn every day, college football is different these days.

This isn’t about the whole state of college football, however. This is about Ohio State and Oregon. The Ducks have landed commitments from a few key Ohio State targets in the 2025 cycle. Along with McNutt, five-star Conroe (Texas) cornerback Dorian Brew committed to Oregon in a decision that blindsided both sides of the aisle. We all know Brew was born in Texas but grew up just outside of Dayton before moving back to Texas midway through his junior season.

The Ducks also landed five-star Plus+ Duncanville (Texas) wide receiver Dakorien Moore . Brian Hartline is as ruthless of a recruiter as they come, but that would have been a hard pull to begin with as the Buckeyes didn’t get seriously involved until January.

Those are just the recent names. What about offensive tackle Zyaire Addison , who while Ohio State offered too late, did have some pull there? Or Jeremiah McClellan , who flipped from Ohio State to Oregon on signing day in December during the 2024 cycle? Remember the high hopes that five-star EDGE Matayo Uiagalelei would sign with Ohio State in December during the 2023 cycle?

Quack.

No program is going to win every recruiting battle. It may seem like programs do, like Alabama during the Saban era. Like Georgia is now with Kirby Smart. Ohio State has won plenty of recruiting battles against other programs and will continue to do so.

There isn’t a reason to point and blame NIL opportunities. Oregon is certainly well taken care of in that department with Phil Knight, the Nike founder, as an alum. But the Buckeyes aren’t exactly hurting in NIL either — look at all those NFL guys who returned for their senior seasons, Jeremiah Smith and key guys in the 2025 class.

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning may not have the wins on his resume to reflect where Oregon is now. He’s lost the big games. Twice against Washington last fall. Against Georgia and Oregon State in 2022.

Lanning and the Ducks will have their first big of 2024 on Oct. 12 when the Buckeyes head to town. And the outcome will have implications that will reach the trail.

Where Lanning is stacking wins is on the recruiting trail. Those wins reflect where Oregon is going. And these two programs, now the faces of the Big Ten, are going to run into each other a lot more often as the Ducks try to plant their flag in the Midwest.

A place usually reserved for Ohio State and others.

So does Ohio State have an Oregon problem?

It’s certainly growing one and it’s not going to go away anytime soon.

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