Ohio State football’s 35-28 loss to Oregon in 2021 remains a bitter memory for Buckeye fans, especially considering how the defense was exposed by the Ducks in a way that few expected. It was a game that seemed to highlight glaring flaws in a unit that had been considered one of the top defenses in the country just a season before. However, a deeper dive into the game reveals that those struggles may have been more of an anomaly than a sign of a systemic breakdown — and one player in particular serves as a microcosm of why.
That player is Zach Harrison, the standout defensive end who, in many ways, represents both the promise and the missteps of Ohio State’s defensive performance at Oregon.
A Day to Forget for Harrison
Harrison’s struggles in the game were glaring. In an encounter that demanded leadership and dominance, he failed to record a sack, had just one tackle, and was frequently out of position. As a key figure in Ohio State’s defensive line, his performance was under heavy scrutiny. Oregon’s offensive line, which had been solid throughout the season, pushed Harrison and the entire defensive front around, allowing running back CJ Verdell to torch the Buckeyes for over 170 yards and two touchdowns. Oregon’s tempo and physicality seemed to overwhelm Ohio State’s defensive line, and Harrison’s inability to impose his will on the Ducks’ offensive line contributed significantly to the problem.
But here’s the thing: Harrison’s performance against Oregon was uncharacteristic of his career trajectory at Ohio State. It wasn’t a reflection of his overall talent, nor was it an indictment of his future in the program.
Why One Game Shouldn’t Define Him – Or the Defense
While Harrison had a rough outing, it’s critical to understand why this performance, and by extension, Ohio State’s defensive struggles in the game, were likely an outlier. For one, Harrison’s play against Oregon was in stark contrast to his usual productivity and skill set. Before this game, he had been steadily improving as a pass rusher and a playmaker for the Buckeyes. His length, quickness, and ability to set the edge had earned him a reputation as one of the best defensive ends in the Big Ten. To see him be neutralized so completely was shocking, but that doesn’t make it the new standard.
Defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs, who was under heavy scrutiny at the time for Ohio State’s defensive woes, later acknowledged that part of the problem against Oregon was an issue with tackling and overall physicality. But it wasn’t just a schematic flaw. The Buckeyes were physically outmatched in the trenches, and this goes beyond Harrison. The defensive front as a whole was unable to disrupt Oregon’s offense, but Oregon’s offensive line was also one of the best the Buckeyes faced all year. The Ducks’ ability to control the line of scrimmage played a critical role in neutralizing Ohio State’s pass rush, something that had been a strength in previous games.
Injuries and Roster Adjustments
Another factor that contributed to the defensive struggles was a lack of continuity in the lineup. Ohio State was still figuring out how to balance personnel on defense, and injuries to key players, such as Tyreke Smith and Haskell Garrett, made it difficult to establish a consistent rotation. The lack of a fully healthy and cohesive unit meant that players like Harrison were often forced into positions where they couldn’t maximize their potential. This, coupled with defensive scheming that wasn’t able to fully adapt to Oregon’s offensive tempo, set the stage for a nightmare performance.
A Defense That Wasn’t the Norm
After the Oregon loss, Ohio State made several adjustments, particularly in terms of personnel and coaching. The addition of Jim Knowles as defensive coordinator in 2022 brought significant improvement. The Buckeyes went on to develop one of the most well-rounded defenses in the nation, blending top-tier pass rush, solid coverage, and a better run defense. Harrison himself bounced back, and by the end of his tenure at Ohio State, was one of the most dominant defensive players in the conference.
While the Oregon game in 2021 raised alarm bells, it was also a clear anomaly in an otherwise promising trajectory for the Ohio State defense. Oregon, a high-tempo, balanced offense, was a unique challenge that exposed some weaknesses in Coombs’ defensive scheme and the team’s physicality. But those weaknesses were not inherent to Ohio State’s overall defensive capabilities, nor were they reflective of the program’s long-term trajectory. The Buckeyes were not going to routinely be dominated like they were by the Ducks that day.
A Look Ahead
Ultimately, Zach Harrison’s struggles against Oregon weren’t a reflection of his abilities or Ohio State’s defense as a whole. The Buckeyes’ defense took a significant step forward after that game, with Harrison playing a key role in helping the team rebound. What happened against Oregon should be seen as an isolated incident — one in which a combination of factors, including a particularly dominant opponent and some personnel issues, led to a frustrating day.
For those who are ready to write off Ohio State’s defense based on that one game, remember that the trajectory since has been toward dominance. Zach Harrison and his teammates proved that with a commitment to improvement, they were capable of much more. As such, Ohio State’s defensive struggles against Oregon remain an anomaly, a game where everything that could go wrong, did — but one that didn’t reflect the true potential of the defense going forward.