Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin ruled out indefinitely, jeopardizing CFP prospects
Coach Ryan Day announced that quarterback Julian Sayin will miss the remainder of the season, raising concerns for Ohio State's College Football Playoff bid.
Ohio State coach Ryan Day said Tuesday that starting quarterback Julian Sayin will be unavailable "indefinitely," a timeline that could extend through the regular season and postseason. The injury, sustained in the fourth quarter of the Buckeyes' 19-15 win over Indiana, may keep Sayin out for the rest of the campaign, according to Day.
Day added that the team is preparing a plan for Sayin's absence and will rely on backups Luke Fahey and Tavien St. Clair, who are expected to see first-team snaps during the upcoming bye week before the Buckeyes face No. 16 USC on Oct. 31.
If Sayin does not return, Ohio State would miss his contributions in games against USC, Oregon, Northwestern, Nebraska and Michigan. Prior to the injury, Sayin ranked third nationally in passing yards (2,007) and touchdowns (19).
The Buckeyes, currently unbeaten and projected as the No. 2 seed in CFP rankings, could see their playoff positioning affected. The selection committee considers the unavailability of key players when evaluating teams, and Ohio State's performance without Sayin may influence its seeding.
Analysts note that a comparable situation occurred in 2023 when Florida State missed the playoff after quarterback Jordan Travis suffered a season-ending injury, prompting the committee to adjust its outlook.
Ohio State still boasts Heisman Trophy candidate Jeremiah Smith and a defense that allows 13.4 points per game, but the impact of Sayin's loss remains a key storyline as the season progresses.