Ohio State enters its bye week trying to work through questions at a critical position and about a new player under center. After the news came out earlier this week that Julian Sayin will be out indefinitely, the Buckeyes are in an adjustment period for the next week before taking the field again
Unfortunately for Ohio State, there's no runway for this adjustment period. The Buckeyes will head to No. 16 USC out of the bye with a first-time starter -- either true freshman Luke Fahey or former five-star and second-year prospect Tavien St. Clair -- with the keys to the offense at a critical juncture in the season.
Ohio State, currently No. 2 in the country according to the US LBM Coaches Poll and sitting with a record of 6-1, still has games at Nebraska and home against No. 24 Northwestern, Oregon and Michigan to close out the year -- none of which would be considered 'easy' wins.
With championship aspirations still inside the program, one loss may be all it takes to kick them out of the College Football Playoff. College football analyst Josh Pate thinks that'll be the case, if not more.
“I think they’ll lose at least three games (total this year), and I think they’ll miss the playoff," Pate said on the Rich Eisen Show this week. "I don’t think they’ll be in the postseason. I think they’ll be a 9-3 team -- really good defense, and if they make it, it’ll be because of defense ... I keep going back to this — Julian Sayin, before he got hurt, was not performing phenomenally."
“I think they’ll lose 3 games and miss the playoffs.” - Josh Pate
— Buckeye HQ (@RealisticBuck) October 21, 2026
Post it all over the Woody. @ryandaytime@OhioStateFBpic.twitter.com/xbkZea9I81
Considering where the Buckeyes were to start the season, No. 1 in the country, to just coming off of a gritty road win at No. 5 Indiana, is that really possible? Sure, considering who will be taking over the reins at quarterback.
Fahey is 9-of-13 for 203 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, while St. Clair is 5-of-7 for 52 yards with one touchdown and one interception on the season -- both in limited playing time.
Ryan Day won't allow his team to just roll over, however. He's seen this situation play out before.
“Now we have to kind of come up for air and put together a plan," Day said this week. "So we need both the guys to practice really well, prepare, and understand that we’re going to need them to win a championship. ... Obviously, the story of winning the national championship here with Cardale (Jones) being the third-string quarterback. So it’s been done before, and that’s a challenge to them. But it’s also a challenge to the entire team. Everybody needs to step up and do their part and upgrade across the board."
It's a critical next few days in Columbus that will set up a critical next month for the program.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: After loss of Julian Sayin, analyst makes prediction about Ohio State