Ohio State should worry about Julian Sayin's injury during upcoming bye week

Sayin, a 2025 Heisman Trophy finalist, didn't have his best game against Indiana, completing slightly over half of his pass attempts while finishing 15-of-29 for 235 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. But the redshirt sophomore is undoubtedly Ohio State's best option at quarterback, and while simply putting the ball up for grabs for standout receiver Jeremiah Smith to catch seems like something anyone can do, that strategy has its limits.

Against the Hoosiers, Sayin's two picks came when targeting Smith. With Ohio State's rushing attack a glaring weakness, the replacement at quarterback will need to win games with his arm, yet forcing the ball to Smith may not always work.

For the fourth time this season, Associated Press No. 4 Ohio State (6-1, 4-0 in Big Ten) was held under four yards per carry, finishing Saturday's win with 37 rushing attempts for 78 yards (2.1 yards per attempt). It was stopped twice in four short-yardage situations and stuffed on seven runs overall to keep the Buckeyes off schedule and needing 7.1 yards per third down. (h/t StatBroadcast)

Rather than entering the bye week on a high after avenging last year's Big Ten title game defeat, Ohio State has serious questions to solve at quarterback with a challenging upcoming slate. On Halloween, the Buckeyes play at the No. 19 USC Trojans (6-1, 3-1 in Big Ten), followed two weeks later by No. 25 Northwestern (5-1, 2-1 in Big Ten) invading Columbus, with Oregon (3-2, 1-1 in Big Ten) sandwiched in between.

In addition to Fahey, redshirt freshman Tavien St. Clair and senior transfer Justyn Martin are other starting quarterback options, but all three are unknowns. Fahey had previously received playing time this year in blowouts and entered Saturday 9-of-11 for 203 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

St. Clair has nine career pass attempts and was 5-of-7 for 52 yards, one touchdown and one interception a season ago. Martin, meanwhile, is on his third Big Ten program and hasn't thrown a pass since a start against Penn State while with the UCLA Bruins on Oct. 5, 2024.

With questionable depth behind Sayin, the upcoming bye week will be massive for Ohio State getting its next starting quarterback up to speed. As significant as Saturday's win over Indiana was, Sayin's looming absence could be even more important.