Ohio State’s big road win over Indiana came with a costly finish.
After the No. 4 Buckeyes escaped No.
5 Indiana 19-15 on Saturday, quarterback Julian Sayin left late in the fourth quarter after taking a hard hit and later returned with a sling on his right arm. Ryan Day didn’t go into specifics on the injury after the game, but he did say Sayin will be out for “several weeks.”
That hands the offense to freshman backup Luke Fahey, who went 0-for-2 after Sayin exited. Ohio State also has sophomore quarterbacks Tavien St. Clair and Kolton Stover on the roster.
The timing matters. The win pushes Ohio State to 6-1 and gives the Buckeyes some breathing room in the College Football Playoff race, but the schedule tightens up fast after a bye week.
They go to No. 19 USC on Oct. 31, then return home for Oregon and No.
25 Northwestern in the following weeks.
For Ohio State to stay in national championship contention, Sayin’s return is going to matter. In the meantime, the Buckeyes will try to ride a defense that has been dominant and a rushing attack that has taken a step forward from last season.
Sayin’s absence could ripple into the Heisman Trophy conversation too. Jeremiah Smith was already one of the front-runners after a huge first six weeks, and he kept rolling against Indiana with four catches for 68 yards and a touchdown. He now has 52 catches for 984 yards and 12 touchdowns, but he’ll have to keep producing at an elite level with a backup quarterback delivering the ball.
In Other News...
Dan Lanning Just Changed Oregons Biggest Nebraska Game Storyline
After a strong showing against USC, Dylan Raiola had a chance to settle in as Oregons quarterback of the moment, but the rhythm did not carry over into the next game against UCLA. The Ducks have now made a change under center, with Dan Lanning opting to go with Brock Thomas for the upcoming matchup against Nebraska. It is a significant turn for an offense that had been trying to build momentum heading into one of the more interesting games on the schedule.
Lanning pointed to Raiolas recent performance and the adjustments Oregon has made on offense as the reasons for the switch, putting the focus on stability rather than sentiment. For Raiola, the timing is especially notable because the Nebraska game had the feel of a personal one, given his connection to the Cornhuskers. Instead, Oregon heads into it with a different quarterback plan and a storyline that looks very different from what it did just a week ago. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Commit Brayton Feister Is Back On The Field Amid Dispute
Brayton Feister is back on the field at Massillon Washington High School after a ruling from the Fifth District Court of Appeals cleared the Oregon commit and his brother Brydon to continue playing their senior season. The decision overturned an earlier Ohio High School Athletic Association ruling that had declared both brothers ineligible, and it gives them the chance to keep contributing while the legal process plays out.
The Feisters had been sidelined after the OHSAA cited transfer and disciplinary issues, turning their season into as much a courtroom matter as a football one. The appeals court granted a preliminary permanent injunction, and while the association could still pursue further legal action, the immediate effect is straightforward for Oregon: one of its commits is back on the field, and the situation remains unresolved beyond that. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons Trip To Ohio State Suddenly Looks Very Different
Ohio States quarterback picture changed quickly this week when coach Ryan Day said Julian Sayin is expected to be out for several weeks after suffering an injury. The Buckeyes are now likely to turn to freshman Luke Fahey for the upcoming stretch, including the game against Oregon, which adds a new wrinkle to a matchup that already had plenty of intrigue.
Oregons own quarterback situation remains unsettled, with Dante Moore, Brock Thomas or Dylan Raiola all possibilities depending on how things shake out. So instead of a familiar heavyweight showdown between established starters, the Ducks could find themselves preparing for a far less predictable test on both sides of the ball. [Read more 🡒]