Sayin Injury Shakes Up Ohio State's Playoff Hopes

Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin injured his right shoulder in the fourth quarter of the Buckeyes’ 19-15 win over Indiana on Oct. 17. Head coach Ryan Day says he’ll likely miss “several weeks.” Indiana defensive lineman Mario Landino sacked Sayin and forced a fumble. Sayin hit the ground hard, favored his right arm and headed to the locker room. A few minutes later, he returned with his arm in a sling.

For a 21-year-old junior, it’s a frightening image. The Buckeyes had just survived a tough road test. Now their season faces a sudden, uncertain turn. Day said he didn’t have further details on the injury.

Who Steps In

Day said true freshman backup Luke Fahey will take over, giving Ohio State a brand-new starter just as its schedule gets harder. “We’ll regroup,” Day said. “We’ve got a good team. When Luke’s in there, we just may need to do things just a little bit differently, but the bye week gives us a chance to regroup on that and put our heads together.”

Fahey replaced Sayin and went 0-for-2 passing, though he drew a penalty that extended a Buckeyes drive. He’s a true freshman with limited college experience, and practice during the bye week is Ohio State’s main tool for getting him ready. That’s a thin cushion for a player being asked to steer a Playoff contender.

A Close Call in Bloomington

The win ended Indiana’s 22-game winning streak in Bloomington. With about a minute left, Indiana appeared to tie the game when Josh Hoover passed to Nick Marsh in the end zone, but Marsh’s foot landed out of bounds. Ohio State held on. The article called it arguably the weekend’s most impactful outcome.

The weekend brought upsets and controversy. BYU beat Notre Dame amid a disputed last-second game-clock issue. Auburn beat heavily favored Georgia in Athens. Florida upset Texas in Austin after another disappointing performance from Arch Manning. Tennessee beat Alabama at home, holding the Crimson Tide offense to 10 points. Miami beat Florida State amid questionable officiating and moved to No. 1 in the AP Top 25 Poll. Ohio State ranked No. 3 and Indiana No. 5 in that week’s poll.

Under the 12-team playoff format, a single result wouldn’t typically knock either Ohio State or Indiana out of contention. That’s a safety net. But it doesn’t erase the stakes for players whose seasons now hang on who can stay healthy.

What Comes Next

Ohio State would be sizable favorites over No. 16 USC if Sayin were available. Without him, the matchup looks different. USC sits on the playoff bubble and could climb into the top 10 with wins over Wisconsin and Ohio State. The article called USC’s defense suffocating and noted that the Trojans have struggled to win big games under Lincoln Riley. The LA Coliseum crowd is expected to be sold out and hostile. USC is seeking its first College Football Playoff appearance in Riley’s tenure.

If Sayin can’t return for the USC game, Ohio State would host Oregon. That matchup no longer looks like the preseason clash of top-five teams. But the Ducks’ defense is extremely talented, and they pulled out an impressive win over a very good Nebraska team even with backup quarterbacks. Ranked Northwestern would visit Columbus afterward, followed by a trip to Lincoln to face Nebraska and a home game against Michigan, known as “The Game.”

The extent of Sayin’s absence remains unclear until more injury details emerge. A home loss to Oregon could leave Ohio State outside the top 12. USC wins over Wisconsin and Ohio State could give the Trojans a route into the top 10, opening room for more SEC or Big 12 teams, or Iowa, whose closing schedule the article described as relatively favorable. Nearly half the season’s games are still ahead. Ohio State could still beat USC on the road with a backup quarterback, and Sayin could return by the first week of November, keeping the Buckeyes on track for the Big Ten Championship Game.

Why This Matters:

For the players, the injury is the real story. Sayin is a 21-year-old junior whose body took a hard hit, and the young backup now carrying a Playoff team’s hopes is a true freshman with almost no college snaps to lean on. Their health and development deserve as much attention as the standings. For fans in Columbus and across the Big Ten, this change shows how quickly a season can tilt on one fall to the ground. Whether the Buckeyes can stay competitive will depend on the training staff’s care for Sayin, the coaches’ support for Fahey, and a playoff system that gives teams a second chance only if they can keep their players safe and prepared.