Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin is expected to miss several weeks after an injury against Indiana, putting freshman Luke Fahey in line to start against USC on Oct. 31.

Ohio State survived a top-five showdown with Indiana on Saturday, but the Buckeyes left Bloomington facing a significant challenge to their national championship aspirations. Starting quarterback Julian Sayin is expected to miss several weeks with an injury, leaving true freshman Luke Fahey in line to lead the offense when Ohio State returns from its bye week.

Head coach Ryan Day announced Sayin’s expected absence after Ohio State’s 19-15 win over the Hoosiers, though he acknowledged he did not yet have a detailed diagnosis or a definitive timeline for the quarterback’s return.

“I don’t have a ton of details, but he’ll probably be out for several weeks,” Day said. “So, you know, we’ll have to come up with a plan there.”

Day said the information came from the team’s training staff and that he expected to learn more after returning to the locker room. He did not disclose the nature of the injury or whether Sayin could miss the remainder of the regular season.

Ohio State’s next game comes October 31 against USC in Los Angeles, giving the Buckeyes two weeks to prepare for the possibility of starting Fahey. The matchup would also bring the freshman back to Southern California, adding a personal dimension to what could be his first career start.

Day acknowledged that the offense may look different with Fahey under center, but expressed confidence in the freshman’s ability to handle the opportunity.

“When someone’s down, someone’s going to step up,” Day said. “That quarterback position, obviously, he’s different, but we’ll regroup. We got a bye week to kind of figure that out, and we got a good team.”

Luke Fahey Gets His Opportunity

Fahey entered Saturday’s game after Sayin left in the fourth quarter, with Ohio State protecting a 19-15 lead and Indiana searching for a late comeback. The freshman was tasked with helping the Buckeyes navigate the closing minutes of one of the most consequential games of their regular season.

Fahey finished 0-of-2 passing for 0 yards. Ohio State didn’t ask the freshman to carry the offense down the stretch, instead relying on its defense to protect a four-point lead. Fahey took a knee on the Buckeyes’ final two plays to close out the victory.

Day pointed to the difficulty of entering a game of that magnitude without a full week of preparation and rhythm as the starter.

“I don’t think the moment was too big for him,” Day said. “One thing about Luke, you can see on that scramble that he made. I mean, he stepped right up. He’s got confidence, he’s got athletic ability. He’s a competitive kid.”

Day believed Fahey could have settled in with more possessions, noting that the transition happened quickly and the offense needed to simplify the situation for the young quarterback.

The coaching staff will have more time during the bye week to work through those adjustments. Ohio State will build a plan around Fahey’s strengths, establish communication and timing with the first-team offense, and determine how much of the existing playbook can remain intact.

The Buckeyes also have to account for the practical challenges of replacing Julian Sayin, who has been at the center of their offensive operation. Cadence, protections, pre-snap identification, and timing with receivers all become priorities when a new starter takes over.

Offensive lineman Luke Montgomery said veteran players would need to take on more responsibility to help Fahey handle those demands.

“We gotta be leaders,” Montgomery said. “We have experience up front, and once we get Austin back here, we’ll have a lot of experience, obviously, and we just gotta continue to lead in any way.”

Montgomery added that the offensive line would take some of the responsibility off Fahey’s plate, particularly with third-down situations, identifying defensive fronts and handling motions. He specifically pointed to the experience of the veteran linemen as an asset in getting the offense aligned and on the same page.

“He’s always in the facility. He always wants to learn. He’s always asking why, how, how do I do this? When am I gonna do it?” Montgomery said. “He’s got a certain moxie about him as a quarterback.”

Montgomery said Fahey’s preparation has earned the trust of his teammates, who encouraged him to focus on one play at a time when he entered against Indiana.

“Whatever happens to Julian, it’s next man up, and Luke’s going to be leading, whether he’s playing or not,” Montgomery said.

Ohio State Must Adjust Without Julian Sayin

Replacing Sayin will require more than inserting Fahey into the starting lineup. Ohio State must decide how to preserve its offensive identity while accounting for the experience gap between its established starter and a freshman with limited snaps.

Sayin finished Saturday’s game 15-of-29 passing for 235 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

The Buckeyes totaled 313 yards against Indiana, averaging 4.6 yards per play. The Hoosiers accumulated 369 yards and averaged 5.3 yards per play, but Ohio State forced two fumbles and held Indiana to 15 points. The Buckeyes also converted six of 15 third-down attempts and scored on all three red-zone trips.

Bo Jackson led Ohio State with 56 rushing yards on 18 carries, while Jeremiah Smith caught four passes for 68 yards and a touchdown. Smith caught a 38-yard touchdown pass from Sayin in the fourth quarter, giving Ohio State a 19-7 lead.

Day said the staff would evaluate adjustments during the bye week rather than try to force the offense to operate exactly as it did with Sayin.

“We just may need to do things just a little bit differently,” Day said. “But the bye week gives us a chance to regroup on that and kind of put our heads together.”

Fahey has seen limited action during his freshman season, appearing against Ball State, Kent State and Maryland before entering Saturday’s game at Indiana. Against Kent State, he completed four of five passes for 141 yards and a touchdown, including a 75-yard completion. He also completed five of six passes for 62 yards and a touchdown in his collegiate debut against Ball State.

However, a potential first start against USC would require him to manage the offense on the road against a major-conference opponent, with the expectations that come with playing quarterback at Ohio State.

Ohio State has playmakers who can help ease the transition. Jeremiah Smith, Devin McCuin, Brandon Inniss, and running back Bo Jackson give the Buckeyes established options in the passing and running games.

Jeremiah Smith said the team would rally around Fahey and the other players who might take on larger roles.

“We wish Julian the best and hope he has a speedy recovery,” Smith said. “But next man up.”

Smith also acknowledged that building chemistry with a new quarterback would take time. The bye week will give Fahey additional opportunities to work with the receivers and develop the timing required to run the offense.

Ohio State left Bloomington with a win over one of the nation’s best teams, but it came at a cost. With Sayin expected to miss several weeks, the Buckeyes must prepare for an uncertain stretch of the season, starting with a road trip to USC, which should be Fahey’s first career start.