What Julian Sayin's Injury Means for Ohio State's Championship Hopes
By Owain Jones
Ohio State’s national championship ambitions have suffered a significant blow, with quarterback Julian Sayin now ruled out indefinitely and potentially facing the remainder of the season on the sidelines.
Speaking on Tuesday, Ryan Day confirmed the Buckeyes are preparing for the possibility of playing the rest of the regular season and postseason without their starting quarterback, turning what was initially expected to be an absence of several weeks into something far more concerning.
It’s a devastating development for an Ohio State team that is one of the favorites for the national championship, has just beaten Indiana in a top-five matchup, sits 6-1, and remains unbeaten in Big Ten play.
The Buckeyes are still genuine national championship contenders. But they might now have to find a way to win it all with a freshman quarterback.
Why Julian Sayin matters so much to Ohio State
Ohio State coach Ryan Day said that QB Julian Sayin is out indefinitely. There’s a plan being put in place for Sayin not being available for both the regular season and postseason. He said there’s no specific timeline on the recovery. He’s dealing with an injury on his throwing arm.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 20, 2026
Sayin has been instrumental to Ohio State’s success as its starting quarterback. He isn’t the most physically gifted quarterback in college football; his arm strength is relatively limited, and he isn’t particularly mobile. Those limitations might affect how NFL teams evaluate him, but they haven’t prevented him from becoming one of the most dependable quarterbacks in college football.
What Sayin lacks in physical tools, he compensates for with consistency, decision-making, and an understanding of how to utilise the talent around him. He’s dependable, he keeps the chains moving, and rarely puts the offense in difficult situations.
That reliability has been particularly important in establishing his relationship with Jeremiah Smith, who has already amassed 984 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns this season and is the leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy.
Their 38-yard touchdown connection on fourth-and-one against Indiana demonstrates exactly what makes the partnership so dangerous. With the pressure on, Sayin found his best playmaker for a crucial score.
And while his performance against the Hoosiers was far from perfect, completing just 15 of 29 passes with two interceptions, his wider production as a starter speaks for itself.
Through seven games in 2026, Sayin has thrown for 2,007 yards, 19 touchdowns, and just four interceptions.
It helps that Ohio State has plenty of exceptional offensive weapons, but Sayin has been the quarterback who makes them work together.
Replacing that dependability will be difficult, regardless of who takes over.
Who will replace Julian Sayin at Ohio State?
Ryan Day has two inexperienced options, and the Buckeyes’ bye week couldn’t have arrived at a better time.
True freshman Luke Fahey entered against Indiana after Sayin suffered his injury, having previously earned the backup position ahead of sophomore Tavien St. Clair.
However, it wasn’t a particularly encouraging introduction. Fahey appeared overwhelmed by the occasion, failing to complete either of his two passes across ten snaps. But there is important context to consider.
He was thrown into one of the biggest games of the season, with little opportunity to prepare and an offensive game plan designed around Sayin’s strengths. That is hardly a fair environment in which to judge his long-term capabilities. The bye week gives Fahey and the coaching staff time to prepare before heading to USC on Oct. 31.
Fahey was a four-star recruit with accuracy, timing, and quick decision-making among his recognised strengths. Those are the qualities Ohio State will need if the offense is to continue functioning as it has with Sayin.
St. Clair offers something different.
The former five-star recruit stands 6-foot-4 and possesses a powerful arm, greater physical upside, and the ability to extend plays. However, that hasn’t yet translated to the Buckeyes, with St. Clair third string in his sophomore season.
Fahey might be the more natural replacement for Sayin, given his accuracy and ability to operate within the structure of an offense. St. Clair offers more physical upside, but that doesn’t necessarily make him the better option for what Ohio State needs right now.
Who will replace Sayin isn’t immediately obvious. It is fair to say that Fahey will be the presumed starter as he won the backup job. But Day hasn’t made his decision.
“Ultimately, it’s going to be my decision,” Day said on Tuesday, acknowledging the importance of getting the quarterback position right. “If this wasn’t a bye week, we’d have to roll right now,” he added.
That extra preparation time will be invaluable, particularly for offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who must now establish how to get the best out of whichever quarterback takes over.
But neither should be expected to replicate Sayin immediately.
Can Ohio State still win the national championship without Julian Sayin?
Absolutely. But there is no escaping the fact that Ohio State’s championship prospects have taken a hit.
The Buckeyes remain the Big Ten favorite, but their remaining schedule is hardly forgiving. They travel to USC after the bye week before facing Oregon, Northwestern, Nebraska on the road, and Michigan.
Winning all five was never guaranteed, even with Sayin, with each having their own threats, but whoever is under center will need to make the offense tick to keep Ohio State in position for the Big Ten title.
Ohio State came close to losing to Indiana on Saturday, and asking an inexperienced quarterback to navigate that schedule without making costly mistakes introduces uncertainty.
Two further conference defeats could put the Buckeyes’ Big Ten Championship Game appearance in jeopardy, particularly with Indiana and UCLA also firmly in contention.
Of course, Ohio State could still win every game. That shouldn’t be ruled out. And even a team with two or three defeats could still reach the College Football Playoff in a wide-open year. But the Buckeyes would rather control their own destiny than leave their postseason hopes to the selection committee.
Fortunately, Ohio State’s defense is unquestionably championship-calibre.
The Buckeyes are allowing just 13.4 points per game, and their ability to control opponents has been proven repeatedly. That unit is good enough to keep Ohio State competitive against virtually anyone, even if the offense takes a step backwards.
But offensively, the running game must improve to relieve pressure from the new starting quarterback.
Ohio State managed just 78 rushing yards against Indiana, although injuries left the Buckeyes without important contributors. They haven’t consistently established the dominant ground attack that would give confidence to an inexperienced quarterback.
That needs to change. Smith has built his coaching career around physical football and establishing the run, including during his time in the NFL. It means he doesn’t need to reinvent his offensive philosophy. If anything, it means that identity becomes even more important without Sayin.
And it isn’t simply about running the ball more often. Ohio State needs to run it better. Otherwise, whoever starts at quarterback could find themselves facing the same difficult situations that Sayin has so often managed to avoid.
But his play-calling must adapt to protect the new quarterback and give him every possible chance to succeed. And that brings us to the biggest question.
Can Fahey or St. Clair demonstrate the poise, confidence, and decision-making required when the game is on the line? Because that is where Sayin has been so valuable.
If his replacement steps in against USC, looks comfortable, and operates the offense efficiently, much of the concern could disappear quickly. Ohio State still has the defense, receiving talent and coaching experience to win a national championship. But until we see that, there are legitimate reasons for caution.
OWAIN JONES
COLLEGE FOOTBALL & NFL DRAFT ANALYST
OWAIN jones COVERS EVERYTHING college football & NFL DRAFT. COMING WITH PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE, OWAIN was PREVIOUSLY a writer for pfsn, and WAS THE NFL DRAFT EDITOR AT NINETY-NINE YARDS, WHERE HE CREATED DRAFT TALK. YOU CAN FOLLOW HIM ON TWITTER @OwainJonesCFB.
