The Ohio State Buckeyes picked up a massive road win on Saturday, holding off the Indiana Hoosiers 19-15 in Bloomington to avenge last December’s loss in the Big Ten Championship Game. But the victory came at a steep cost for the defending national champions.
Starting quarterback Julian Sayin left the game in the fourth quarter with an injury to his right arm, and Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day said afterward that he expects Sayin to be out for “several weeks.” Needless to say, the news sent shockwaves through the college football world.
Sayin Exits in a Sling
Sayin threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Jeremiah Smith on fourth-and-1 early in the fourth quarter to give Ohio State a 19-7 lead. Shortly after, he went to the locker room and later returned to the sideline without his helmet and with his right arm in a sling.
True freshman Luke Fahey finished the game at quarterback, and the Buckeyes held on when Indiana wide receiver Nick Marsh’s foot came down out of bounds on what would have been the go-ahead touchdown with 1:02 remaining.
“I don’t have a ton of details, but it looks like Julian will be out several weeks,” Day said after the game, via The Associated Press.
“We’ll regroup,” Day added. “This is bigger than one person. Obviously, you don’t want to see him get hurt. If Luke is in there, we may have to do things a little differently, but we’ve got a bye week to put our heads together and figure that out.”
Sayin, who was a Heisman Trophy finalist last season, went 15-for-29 for 235 yards with two interceptions before leaving the game. Ohio State is off next week before visiting USC on Oct. 31.
‘Major development’
The injury drew plenty of reactions from around the sport, including from the opposing quarterback.
“And I hope Julian is okay. I know he got banged up. So prayers are for Julian, I hope he’s all right,” Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover said after the game, via Michael Niziolek of The Herald-Times.
“Sayin in a sling. Major development no matter how this game ends,” wrote Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated.
“Julian Sayin back in a sling? NOOOO,” wrote RJ Young of Fox Sports.
“Ohio State hangs on to beat Indiana. Julian Sayin leaves the game in a sling. Buckeyes are off next week. Will Sayin be ready after the bye week when OSU visits USC on Halloween?” wrote Bruce Feldman of The Athletic.
Dr. Jesse Morse, a board-certified sports medicine physician, listed a UCL sprain or tear in the elbow and an AC sprain in the shoulder as possible injuries. “With coach saying he’s out several weeks, and not immediately saying it was season-ending, makes a fracture or shoulder dislocation significantly less likely,” Morse wrote. “Minimum 2 weeks, up to 4 weeks depending on specifics.”
“Gritty win by Ohio State. But there is no way Buckeye fans can feel better than they did going into the game. Lost Sayin who was playing like garbage before the injury anyway. Thought Indiana looked better. Hoover was garbage. Lots of question marks moving forward but almost would feel better waking up tomorrow as an Indiana fan,” wrote Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy.
“There’s a big difference between the QB you trust to finish a game and the one you trust to start. Luke Fahey has earned his spot as QB2, but with two weeks to prepare for USC, I think OSU should give Tavien St. Clair every shot to start,” wrote Land-Grant Holy Land, SB Nation’s Ohio State site.
Clearly, Ohio State’s bye week couldn’t have come at a better time.
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