Ohio State Coach Reportedly Fired After Loss to Oregon 'After Allowing a Critical Fake Punt'

Ohio State's 41-28 loss to Oregon on Saturday was costly in more ways than one.

Per ESPN's Adam Rittenberg , the Buckeyes fired special teams coordinator Robby Discher "after allowing a critical fake punt conversion" in Saturday's loss to the Ducks, which dropped their record to 6-3 this season.

Discher was hired as Ohio State's special teams coordinator just nine months ago following his run at Illinois, where he held the same role and also served as tight ends coach. He also previously coached special teams at Tulane and Toledo.

On Saturday against the Ducks, the Buckeyes held a 14-3 lead in the second quarter when Oregon executed a fake punt with Teitum Tuioti throwing a jump pass to fellow defensive lineman Matayo Uiagalelei for a 30-yard gain. The team went on to score a touchdown, starting a run of 38 unanswered points.

After Ohio State's second straight loss, head coach Ryan Day said he planned to "evaluate everything."

"Getting off the field there before the fake punt would have been a huge stop and enabled for us to get the ball on offense and eat up some more clock there in the second quarter," Day said. "But it didn't happen. So I've got to evaluate everything and try to come in [Sunday] and figure out with the staff the things that we're just coming up short on and figure out how to adjust those things. And I think it all starts with the staff. And then it goes to the players. So there needs to be accountability for all of it. And then we go from there."

Day also lamented the Buckeyes' penalties, several of which were on special teams. Rittenberg noted that Ohio State ranks 102nd nationally in special teams efficiency this season.

"The penalties are a killer," Day said. "At the end of the day as a coach, you've got to look yourself in the mirror and find out why that's happening."

The Buckeyes' third loss of the season could be enough to end their College Football Playoff hopes, but they will try to finish strong in their final three regular-season games, starting with Saturday's matchup against Northwestern (6-3).