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Ohio State's Julian Sayin Injured, Team Relies on Freshman Backup
Confirmed
In Short: Ohio State's star quarterback Julian Sayin is out for several weeks after an injury, forcing the team to turn to freshman Luke Fahey.
Ohio State's starting quarterback Julian Sayin was sidelined during the fourth quarter of the game against Indiana due to an apparent upper-body injury.
Sayin, a junior from Carlsbad, California, who transferred to Ohio State from Alabama, left the game after being sacked by Indiana’s Mario Landino with 8:05 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Head coach Ryan Day announced that Sayin will be out for several weeks, though the exact nature of the injury remains unclear.
During his time on the field, Sayin completed 15 of 29 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns, but also threw two interceptions.
In Sayin's absence, the Buckeyes turned to freshman Luke Fahey, a three-star prospect out of Mission Viejo, California, in the class of 2026.
Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who had a strong performance against Indiana with four catches for 68 yards and a touchdown, expressed support for Sayin, saying, “We got you. We're gonna take care of this win for you.”
Former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Seth Joyner criticized Ohio State for putting an undersized freshman quarterback on the field, expressing concern about the team's future.
Sayin's injury is a significant blow to Ohio State's championship aspirations, as he was a Heisman Trophy finalist and had completed 432 of his 583 passing attempts (74.1%) for 5,617 yards and 51 touchdowns with 12 interceptions in 21 games as the starting quarterback.
Coach Day emphasized the importance of preparing Fahey for his first career start, noting, “Whatever happens with Julian, it's next man up.... It's Fahey's time right now.”
What this adds
WarpBeat previously reported that Ohio State turned to Luke Fahey as a backup, but this story adds details about the extent of Sayin's injury and the immediate reaction from the coaching staff and media.
The sources have not established the exact nature of Sayin's injury, though speculation suggests it could be a significant right elbow/arm injury, possibly involving the ulnar collateral ligament.
Background
In Sayin's absence, the Buckeyes turned to freshman Luke Fahey, a three-star prospect out of Mission Viejo, California, in the class of 2026.
The Ohio State University is a public research university in Columbus, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1870, it is the flagship institution of the University System of Ohio.
What's confirmed
- It was unclear what injury Sayin may have suffered, but Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said after the game that Sayin will be out for a couple weeks.
- In the fourth quarter against Indiana in Bloomington, the Hoosiers sacked Sayin on first-and-10 from Indiana's 38-yard line.
- When Sayin left the game, he had completed 15-of-29 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions against the Hoosiers.
- Against Indiana in a rematch of the 2025 Big Ten championship game, Sayin — who entered Week 7 tied for fourth with 17 passing touchdowns this season and ranked sixth among FBS quarterbacks with 1,772 passing yards — left the field and went to the locker room with about eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
- "I don't have [an update] right now," Day told Taft.
What's still developing
- On the other hand, the Buckeyes have a real worry on their hands at quarterback.
- Listed at 5-foot-11 and 206 pounds, Fahey isn't the biggest quarterback, but 247Sports recruiting analyst Greg Biggins had high praise for Fahey in his scouting report.
- 4 Ohio State picked up a huge 19-15 win on the road over No.
- As our Ben Portnoy reported, Day expects Sayin to be out for a couple weeks.
- “By video, worry for significant right elbow/arm injury. Possible ulnar collateral ligament strain/tear,” Chao wrote in a post on his social media channels.
- That resulted in Sayin exiting Saturday's matchup at a crucial moment for his team.
- Fahey is 0-for-2 on two passing attempts in his limited action since taking over for Sayin.
- Previously: One of the biggest games this college football Saturday is now in the hands of a freshman backup quarterback.
- Indiana welcomed Ohio State to Bloomington on Saturday, in a meeting of two teams ranked inside the top five.
- 16 USC, Oregon, Northwestern, Nebraska and Michigan.
- But while the visiting Buckeyes built a 19-15 lead, they were soon playing without starting quarterback Julian Sayin, who went to the locker room after an apparent upper-body injury.
- The star quarterback, Jayden Daniels, missed time with a notable setback.