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The Ohio State Buckeyes secured a win over the Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday, but the victory came at a steep price: star quarterback Julian Sayin was forced out of the game with an injury to his throwing arm. This week, head coach Ryan Day provided an update that offered little clarity, stating, “We’re not gonna put any timeline for his injury, but he is out indefinitely,” according to Dan Hope of Eleven Warriors.
With Sayin sidelined, the Buckeyes are turning to freshman Luke Fahey, hoping he can replicate Cardale Jones’s 2014 heroics and guide the team to a championship as a backup. However, analyst Josh Pate is far from optimistic about that scenario.
“I think they’ll lose. I think they’ll lose at least three games, and I think they’ll miss the playoff. I don’t think they’ll be in the postseason,” Pate said on the Rich Eisen Show. “I think they’ll be a 9-3 team, really good defense. And if they make it, it’ll be because of defense.”
Key Analysis
Pate’s pessimism stems not only from Sayin’s absence but also from the quarterback’s performance before the injury. “Julian Sayin, before he got hurt, was not performing phenomenally,” Pate noted, referencing the Indiana game where neither quarterback excelled. He also highlighted a broader issue: the Buckeyes’ running game. “You could make this point about Marcel Reed, John Mateer, Arch Manning—all these dudes who are underachieving. Do you notice the common thread? Every run game either sucks outright or is woefully underachieving relative to what was expected,” Pate explained. Conversely, quarterbacks like Gunner Stockton and Connor Weigman have thrived thanks to strong ground games.
Pate emphasized that success at quarterback requires more than arm talent. “It’s almost like there’s more to playing the quarterback position at a high level than just, well, how far can I throw the ball? This is still a team game,” he said. He also questioned whether Ohio State can rely on its receivers beyond Jeremiah Smith, specifically mentioning Chris Henry Jr., who was on the field for only about 11 plays against Indiana despite gaining over 50 receiving yards. “If you’re gonna die, you need to die with those dudes on the field,” Pate added, suggesting that Plan A—relying on Sayin—is no longer viable.
As the Buckeyes navigate the remainder of their schedule without their offensive steward, all eyes will be on whether they can elevate their running game and supporting cast to keep their playoff aspirations alive.
Originally reported by yahoo.