Ohio State coach Ryan Day refused to put an exact timeline on quarterback Julian Sayin's recovery, saying he wanted to give the signal caller and his family privacy and space right now. However, based on what the team knows about Sayin's 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."
Sayin suffered a still-unspecified injury during the Buckeyes’ win at Indiana last week when he was sacked early in the fourth quarter.
Indiana defensive lineman Mario Landino collided with Sayin’s arm as Sayin began to attempt a pass.
The hit forced Sayin to exit the game early. After leaving for the locker room, he returned with his right throwing arm in a sling.
The injury leaves the Buckeyes without their starting quarterback as they manage a difficult midseason stretch of four consecutive top-25 matchups, continuing with a trip to No. 15 USC on Oct. 31, followed by home games against No. 25 Oregon on Nov. 7 and No. 23 Northwestern on Nov. 14.
Sayin has been behind center for the Buckeyes for more than a year, having made 21 consecutive starts since he beat out Lincoln Kienholz in a preseason competition in 2025.
Sayin finished fourth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy last year after finishing with one of the most accurate single-seasons for a passer in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Over his two seasons as the starter, he has thrown for 5,617 yards with 51 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
The Buckeyes are expected to turn to freshman Luke Fahey to replace Sayin after he rose up the depth chart in the offseason and entered September as the backup over Tavien St. Clair, a former five-star from Bellefontaine, and Justyn Martin, a veteran transfer who spent previous seasons at Maryland and UCLA.
Fahey appeared in three games before he stepped in for Sayin during the fourth quarter at Indiana.
He's completed 9 of 13 passes for 203 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in 2026.
Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com and follow him on @joeyrkaufman on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Julian Sayin out indefinitely, Ohio State planning for postseason without QB
