Ohio State head coach Ryan Day announced that starting quarterback Julian Sayin is out indefinitely with a shoulder injury, forcing the Columbus-based program to prepare for the possibility of finishing the season without him.
Day had initially said Sayin would be sidelined for “several weeks” after the quarterback injured his throwing shoulder during Ohio State’s 19-15 win over Indiana last weekend. That timeline has since changed.
“First off, we’re not going to put any timeline on his recovery, but he is out indefinitely,” Day told reporters. “So, what we’re trying to do is give Julian and his family some privacy to go through this process. But based on the nature of the injury, we are putting together a plan for him not being available for the regular season and also him not being available for the postseason.”
Day added: “Based on that, if he’s not able to return this fall, we’ll put a plan together for that as well. That’s really the update I have right now out of respect to him and his family.”
Sayin was injured when Indiana defender Mario Landino hit his throwing shoulder while sacking him, causing a fumble. Sayin left for the locker room to be evaluated and later returned to the sideline wearing a sling. The exact nature of the injury has not been disclosed, though the team’s indefinite planning timeline suggests it is serious.
Before the injury, Sayin had emerged as one of the top quarterback prospects in the country, throwing for 1,772 yards with 17 touchdowns against just two interceptions this season.
Fahey Takes the Reins
True freshman Luke Fahey, who stepped in after Sayin went down in the fourth quarter against Indiana, will remain Ohio State’s starting quarterback going forward. The timing gives the program a brief cushion: the Buckeyes are on a bye this weekend before traveling to face No. 16 USC on Halloween.
“When Luke’s in there, we just may need to do things just a little bit differently, but the bye week gives us a chance to regroup on that and put our heads together,” Day said.
Fahey, a three-star recruit from California, now carries the responsibility of keeping Ohio State competitive as the No. 3 team in the country.
“He’s got confidence, he’s got athletic ability, he’s a competitive kid,” Day said of Fahey. “I don’t think the moment was too big for him.”
