Ryan Day didn’t spend much time easing into the postgame conversation after Ohio State’s 19-15 win over Indiana. The first topic out of the gate was the health of quarterback Julian Sayin, and Day’s answer made the situation sound uncertain for the Buckeyes going forward.
During his press conference in Columbus, Day said Sayin will "probably be out for several weeks, so we'll have to come up with a plan there."
With Sayin sidelined, freshman Luke Fahey was pushed into action and had to handle the moment in a tight fourth-quarter environment. Day said he liked what he saw from the young quarterback, pointing to both his poise and his athleticism.
"One thing about Luke, you can see on that scramble that he made. I mean he stepped right up... he's got confidence, he's got athletic ability... he's a competitive kid. So, I don't think the moment was too big for him, it was just moving fast for him and if he had a few more drives i think he would have found the speed of the game," Day said about Fahey's performance.
Day also singled out Jeremiah Smith, saying the receiver’s size gives him an edge when the ball is in the air. He described Smith this way: "He's so tall that if you give him a chance, he's gonna make some plays," in reference to Jeremiah Smith's catching ability even with multiple defenders on his back.
Smith echoed the idea that Ohio State has to adjust quickly if Sayin is out. He pointed to the backup quarterback and the need for everyone else to raise their level, saying, "Next man up... we wish Julian, I wish him a hurried recovery, but you know next man up. Luke Fahey did a great job at the end of the day ... everybody gotta step up now in that role."
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