Ohio State earned one of its biggest wins of the season Saturday, but the victory came with a significant loss. Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin is expected to miss several weeks after suffering an injury during Ohio State's 19-15 win over Indiana, head coach Ryan Day announced following the game. Sayin was injured during the fourth quarter after taking a hard hit on a sack.
He left the field and went to the locker room before later returning to the sideline with his right throwing arm in a sling. The quarterback did not return to the game. Day did not reveal a specific diagnosis but said Sayin would likely be sidelined for several weeks.
The timeline creates a major question for an Ohio State team that improved to 6-1 by ending Indiana's 22-game winning streak. Before leaving Saturday's game, Sayin completed 15 of 29 passes for 235 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. The injury is an especially significant blow considering Sayin's emergence as one of college football's premier quarterbacks.
He was a Heisman Trophy finalist last season after helping lead Ohio State to the College Football Playoff. True freshman Luke Fahey stepped in for Sayin against Indiana and could now find himself leading one of college football's most prominent programs during a critical stretch of the season. Ohio State's upcoming bye week provides some breathing room before the Buckeyes travel to USC on Halloween.
However, with Sayin expected to miss several weeks, his absence could extend well beyond that matchup. The Buckeyes have already shown they can compete with the nation's best. Now they face a different challenge: maintaining that success without the quarterback who helped put them in championship contention.
Saturday's victory over Indiana strengthened Ohio State's postseason outlook, but Sayin's injury introduced a new level of uncertainty. The Buckeyes may have won one of their biggest games of the season, but their toughest test could still be ahead.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
