Ryan Day gives Monday evening update on where things stand with Ohio State QB Julian Sayin’s injury
The Ohio State Buckeyes are going to have to play multiple games without their second year starting quarterback, and it could be more.
The Ohio State Buckeyes beat Indiana in a top-5 matchup in Week 6, but the victory came with a heavy cost. Injury news surrounding quarterback Julian Sayin turned a big win over the Hoosiers into the kind of result that feels like a loss for Ohio State football.
Coach Ryan Day rarely has a quarterback back to start for two years in Columbus. He had that luxury with Justin Fields and CJ Stroud, and Sayin was the next name on that list. Instead, Sayin’s second season as the starter now looks to be in question in a major way.
Ryan Day drops latest update on Julian Sayin
Ryan Day dropped the latest update on Sayin Monday evening, and while it sounds the same as the previous one, a couple of words stand out.
“It’ll be at the least several weeks, but no update right now,” Day stated on the 97.1 The Fan Buckeye Roundtable. “They’re still going through some of their testing and some of their meetings.”
The “at least several weeks” stands out here. It means Ohio State will be without him for at least the next two games against USC and Oregon, but the door is open for him to be out longer.
Ohio State’s offense runs on the connection between Sayin and star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. That pairing has been one of the most dangerous in college football, and now it’s gone for the rest of 2026.
Sayin has thrown 19 touchdown passes to four interceptions this season, along with 2,007 passing yards. The numbers from a year ago show how much Ohio State is losing. Sayin was a Heisman finalist last season after completing 77 percent of his passes for 3,610 yards, 32 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
Buckeyes turn to true freshman QB Luke Fahey
Ohio State now has to turn to freshman quarterback Luke Fahey. He was a 3-star recruit out of California in the class of 2026, and he’s set to take over an offense built to compete for a national championship.
The Buckeyes do believe in Fahey’s ability. Ohio State’s view is that Fahey would have been a highly touted recruit if he were a couple of inches taller. The staff saw something in him during the recruiting process, and he’s going to have a chance to prove that belief right over the second half of the season.
Still, the jump from backup to starter in the middle of a Big Ten title race is a big one for any true freshman. Fahey won’t have the luxury of easing into the role. He’ll be asked to keep the offense moving and get the ball to Smith every start he makes.
Day and the offensive staff will have to adjust the game plan around a young quarterback. That could mean leaning harder on the run game and simplifying reads, all while keeping Smith involved enough to stay a weekly threat.
Ohio State fans might have to temper expectations
The reality is that Ohio State fans now have to temper their expectations for the rest of the season. Losing one of the most prominent players in the program changes the outlook for the Buckeyes in 2026.
Ohio State still has talent all over the roster, and the win over Indiana keeps it in a strong spot in the standings. However, a team that looked like a national title contender with Sayin under center now has a much bigger question mark at the most important position on the field.
It’s tough news for Ohio State, and there’s a chance the worst of it hasn’t come yet. How Fahey handles his first start on the road at USC on Halloween will tell us a lot about where the Buckeyes go from here.
