They collapsed in their second innings against Auckland at Colin Maiden Park, and heard news from Mt Maunganui that Canterbury had tucked the Plunket Shield away for the winter.
Talk about a deflating end to the season.
Otago had a chance of sneaking through to claim the New Zealand first-class title for the first time since 1987-88 if everything fell its way, but nothing did.
The Volts are staring down the barrel of a crushing season-ending loss - Auckland is 91 without loss in pursuit of 187 - and Canterbury gets to celebrate retaining the Plunket Shield after its nine-wicket demolition of Northern Districts with a day to spare.
Otago managed maximum bowling points as it dismissed Auckland for 344, giving the visiting side a lead of 43.
Spinner Rhys Phillips led the bowlers with three wickets, and Jacob Duffy, Craig Smith and Roald Badenhorst each bagged two.
That left Otago with a simple task: rattle up 250-odd in its second innings before declaring and asking Auckland to chase 300.
Aaron Redmond, in his last innings for Otago before retiring, posted 28, and 55 for one was a decent start, but then it all went pearshaped.
Tarun Nethula (four for 24) and Lockie Ferguson (four for 45) provided a lethal spin-pace punch as the Volts crumbled for 143 in 51.2 overs.
That left Auckland with a measly target and, with a full day left, all 10 wickets in hand and just 96 more runs required, an Auckland win seems in the bag.
It was frenetic stuff in Mt Maunganui as Canterbury, which had declared its first innings 43 runs behind, scythed through a limp Northern batting order.
The Knights lost all 10 wickets - the first eight inside 23 overs - in yesterday's morning session.
Canterbury bowler Ed Nuttall claimed his maiden first-class five-wicket bag, finishing with figures of six for 45 as Northern crumbled for 101.
That left Canterbury needing just 145 to retain the Plunket Shield and it got there with embarrassing ease.
Ronnie Hira set the tone with 16 runs off the opening over, and Canterbury captain Peter Fulton blasted an unbeaten 91 off just 53 balls.
Canterbury, which only lost one game, became the first team since Auckland in 2002-03 to win the shield in successive seasons.
In Napier, Wellington leads Central Districts by 179 runs with six second-innings wickets in hand.
Central led by 128 runs on the first innings but Wellington has fared much better in its second dig, reaching 307 for four by stumps yesterday.
Stephen Murdoch led Wellington with 112 off 147 balls, backed up by Michael Pollard (60 not out).
