The margin for error in the College Football Playoff is nonexistent. After Saturday’s 13-10 heartbreak against Indiana in the Big Ten Championship, it has become painfully clear that Ohio State’s current margin is being erased by its special teams.
While offensive stagnation and red-zone playcalling drew the immediate ire of the fanbase, the most correctable fatal flaw lies at the kicker position. If head coach Ryan Day intends to salvage a national championship run from this 12-1 season, he must make a difficult but necessary decision: bench senior Jayden Fielding and hand the starting job to Jackson Courville.
Fielding’s missed 27-yard field goal with under three minutes remaining in Indianapolis wasn’t just a singular error; it was a momentum-shattering lapse in a game defined by defensive grit. For a program with the resources and aspirations of Ohio State, missing a “chip shot” with a conference title on the line is untenable. It signals a crisis of confidence that rarely resolves itself in the pressure cooker of the playoffs.
The solution is already on the roster.
Jackson Courville, who transferred to Ohio State in May 2025 after a standout career at Ball State, was brought to Columbus precisely for this scenario. During his two seasons with the Cardinals, Courville proved to be a reliable weapon, connecting on 26 of 34 career attempts. crucially, he possesses the leg strength and poise the Buckeyes currently lack, boasting a career long of 52 yards and a history of converting in high-leverage situations.
Fielding has been serviceable for much of his career, but the “yips” are a notorious plague in college football. When a kicker loses the ability to execute routine plays in critical moments, the coaching staff cannot afford to hope for a turnaround. The psychological weight of the Indiana miss will loom large over every subsequent attempt Fielding takes.
Courville offers a fresh slate. He carries no baggage from the Lucas Oil Stadium collapse and has the veteran experience to handle the spotlight. Swapping kickers on the eve of the playoffs is a gamble, but sticking with a broken process is a resignation.Â
Ohio State’s roster is championship-caliber. The defense is elite, and the skill talent is unrivaled. But championships are often decided by three points. Against Indiana, those three points stayed off the board. To ensure they find the uprights in the playoff, the Buckeyes must turn to No. 96.
