The Situation
Ohio State just grabbed a high-stakes 19-15 win against Indiana, but the vibes are lowkey off. QB1 Julian Sayin took a massive hit during the fourth quarter and left the field for good. He was spotted later with his right arm in a sling.
What's Next
Head coach Ryan Day confirmed the QB will be out for "several weeks." That is a massive L for the team right before they head into a brutal part of their schedule. The Buckeyes have a bye next week, which is a major W for recovery time, but then it’s straight into a road game against No. 19 USC on Oct. 31, followed by Oregon and No. 25 Northwestern.
Freshman Luke Fahey is currently stepping into the backup role, but the team also has sophomores Tavien St. Clair and Kolton Stover waiting in the wings. While the offense figures out the quarterback room, the team is going to have to lean heavily on their defense and their run game to keep their College Football Playoff dreams alive.
The Heisman Impact
Star WR Jeremiah Smith is having a main character moment this season, dropping 52 catches for 984 yards and 12 touchdowns. He played great against Indiana, but with Sayin out, it’s going to be way harder for him to keep up that insane pace and stay in the Heisman conversation.
Why it matters
Sitting at 6-1, Ohio State is right in the mix for the College Football Playoff. Losing their starting quarterback at this point in the season could completely change their trajectory, making every single snap in the coming weeks high-stakes.
