College football fans across the country expected a high-stakes showdown this weekend featuring two of the top programs in the sport. Ohio State traveled to Bloomington for a rematch against Indiana, a game that doubled as a chance for the Buckeyes to avenge their loss in last season’s Big Ten championship.
Both teams arrived with strong conference records, and the Hoosiers aimed to keep their lengthy winning streak alive after claiming the national title the year before.
Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin is undergoing further testing today, On3 college football insider Pete Nakos reported.
The development follows Saturday’s 19-15 victory over Indiana, when Sayin left the field in the fourth quarter after an apparent injury to his throwing arm.
He was sacked by Indiana’s Mario Landino on the play, fumbled the ball, and then jogged toward the locker room with the arm hanging limp at his side. Sayin later returned to the Ohio State sideline wearing a sling and did not play another snap as the Buckeyes held on for the win.
Head coach Ryan Day met with reporters after the game and offered an initial assessment of the situation.
“I don’t have a ton of details, but he’ll probably be out several weeks,” Day said. “We’ll have to come up with a plan there.”
True freshman Luke Fahey entered at quarterback in Sayin’s place and finished the contest, though he went 0 for 2 on his only pass attempts.
Before the injury, Sayin had completed 15 of 29 passes for 235 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions against the Hoosiers.
Ohio State leaned on its defense and running game in the final minutes to protect the lead after Fahey took over. The Buckeyes improved to 6-1 overall and 4-0 in Big Ten play with the road win, snapping Indiana’s streak in the process.
Ohio State has a bye next week, which gives the staff extra time before a trip to USC on Oct. 31. That break should allow coaches to get a clearer picture of Sayin’s status while preparing Fahey for a larger role if needed.
Sayin entered the season as one of the top quarterbacks in the country after finishing as a Heisman finalist last year and posting efficient numbers through the first six games.
Additional testing could reveal more about the extent of the arm issue and how many games the Buckeyes might have to navigate without their starter.
