Ohio State confirmed Wednesday that starting quarterback Julian Sayin is out for Saturday’s game at USC, marking the first official availability report since his injury.
The Big Ten’s Wednesday night report listed Sayin as out. The Buckeyes had a bye the previous week, so this was the initial formal update after the injury on Oct. 17 at Indiana.
Sayin left that game in the fourth quarter after a sack by Indiana’s Mario Landino. He returned to the sideline with his right arm in a sling and did not finish.
Coach Ryan Day has said Sayin is out indefinitely. “Based on the nature of the injury, we are putting together a plan for him not being available for the regular season and then also him not being available for the postseason,” Day said. He added that a regular-season return is doubtful.
Sayin entered the season as a Heisman Trophy finalist from the prior year. Through seven games this season he completed 131 of 192 passes for 2,007 yards with 19 touchdowns and four interceptions, according to Ohio State’s official statistics.
Day has not named a starter for USC. He indicated after practice Tuesday that he needed another day or two to decide between true freshman Luke Fahey and sophomore Tavien St. Clair.
“Luke’s been ahead of Tavien in terms of what we’ve seen, but now that we have a bye week, these guys are both going to get a lot of reps,” Day said. “We’re going to play the guy that gives us the best chance to win.”
Fahey relieved Sayin against Indiana and finished the 19-15 win without completing a pass in limited action. The three-star recruit from Mission Viejo, California, has been the primary backup throughout the season.
St. Clair, a five-star prospect from Bellefontaine, Ohio, entered his second year on campus ranked behind Fahey on the depth chart for the Indiana game. He has appeared in limited roles earlier this season.
The availability report also listed wide receiver Brandon Inniss and defensive back Jay Timmons as questionable for Ohio State. Those statuses could further affect the passing game.
No. 2 Ohio State (6-1, 4-0 Big Ten) travels to face USC in the teams’ first Big Ten matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Eastern on NBC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The Buckeyes’ remaining regular-season schedule includes home games against Oregon and Northwestern, a trip to Nebraska, and the rivalry finale against Michigan.
Ohio State is preparing as if Sayin will miss the rest of the fall, including any postseason. Day has emphasized that the staff will select the quarterback who provides the strongest chance to win the upcoming stretch.
The official out designation ends any speculation about Sayin’s availability for the USC trip. All focus now shifts to which backup will take the first snaps in a high-stakes road environment.
