Ohio State offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is entering a critical part of his first season in Columbus. Not because it's now the back half of Big Ten play, with postseason play nearing, but because he will now have to work a new quarterback into the offense.
With the injury news to Julian Sayin, the Heisman hopeful entering the season who will now likely be out the remainder of the year, Smith will lean on two inexperienced signal-callers and have to figure out a way to expedite their development and knowledge of the offense.
"I guess the good news is that we're on a bye, so we don't have to play this Saturday," Smith said. "That gives you a little more time, and you can slow down and assess things you would normally be assessing anyway. We're just past the halfway point of the regular season. You look at the things you think you're doing well, the things you need to lean into, and the things you need to clean up.
"When you're dealing with a quarterback situation like this, it certainly changes your approach a little bit. But in the big picture, you can do both."
Ryan Day said that Ohio State would be looking at both Luke Fahey and Tavien St. Clair this week and adjust the offense accordingly to their strengths -- whoever takes over. Both bring different skill sets, and while Fahey will likely exit the bye week as the starter, both players know their numbers will be called at some point.
"We'll put the plan together," Smith said. "Again, both of those guys have two weeks to prepare ... you always want to adapt to whoever's back there. That's been the case with every quarterback I've had ... That's your job. It's not just, 'Here's the playbook'. It's not one-size-fits-all. You've got to adapt, and the situation can change, whether it's in-game or week to week. That's what you try to prepare for."
Going from an experienced player like Sayin to Fahey and St. Clair, who have combined for just 14 completions in their careers, isn't expected to be easy. But this is the time when they'll lean on the talent the Buckeyes have around the rest of the roster.
"You understand they're not Julian. You're not asking them to be Julian; you're asking them to be themselves. We've got to prepare, and anytime you're playing with a young guy, you have to adapt," Smith said. "You could put Joe Montana in here as a rookie, a first-year player or a second-year player, and you would still have to adapt to his strengths and understand that.
"We also have experience elsewhere. That's where the leadership has to step up. We have experience up front on the offensive line and in the receiver room, and you've got to feel that as well. It's really all 11 of us. For us to be successful, we all have to do our jobs at a high level. That's everybody across the board, and we'll play good football if we do that."
How does Ohio State’s offense change without Julian Sayin?
— The Silver Bulletin (@tSilverBulletin) October 21, 2026
Arthur Smith addressed the challenge facing Luke Fahey and Tavien St. Clair as the Buckeyes navigate a critical stretch.
“I’m not asking Luke or Tavien to be Julian.”
🔗: https://t.co/vlWYIXJB4Ipic.twitter.com/t6vVezw8VI
Ohio State is currently ranked No. 2 in the country according to the US LBM Coaches Poll, but already with one loss, there isn't going to be much wiggle room to take another loss and feel like a postseason berth is still within reach.
Day will continue to lean on the history at Ohio State -- most notably when Cardale Jones took the reins and won the first-ever CFP championship after the 2014 season. Smith will lean on his time in the NFL to ensure both quarterbacks are ready to perform and keep this group trending in a positive direction.
"You're a play away, and the reality of the moment hits you," Smith said. "That's what you try to prepare for. You try to teach them through it, and then, unfortunately, it happens. You get ready to go because the show keeps moving."
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State coordinator Arthur Smith talks mindset without Julian Sayin