Ohio State QB Julian Sayin's Injury Recovery Is on Track for Oregon

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day provided a critical injury update on quarterback Julian Sayin on Thursday, just days before the Buckeyes host No. 23 Oregon.

Sayin suffered an elbow injury to his throwing arm during Ohio State’s Week 7 win at Indiana on Oct. 17.

The junior quarterback was hit from his right side while looking to throw a pass to his left in the fourth quarter.

The hit caused a fumble and injured his elbow.

Day initially said Sayin was expected to be out for several weeks.

A week later, the timeline shifted to “indefinitely,” with the coach acknowledging the team had a plan for Sayin not returning this season or the postseason.

Ohio State lost its first game without Sayin on Saturday, falling 30-18 to USC in Week 9.

The Buckeyes dropped from No. 2 in the AP poll to unranked territory, and they came in at No. 12 in the initial College Football Playoff ranking released Tuesday.

Freshman Luke Fahey started against USC and completed 21 of 38 passes for 260 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions.

On Thursday, Day offered a more detailed assessment of Sayin’s condition during his weekly radio show on 97.1 The Fan.

“All things considered — the outcome with different options that we were kind of going into the situation thinking it could be — I think this has been a decent outcome for us and for him,” Day said, via Eleven Warriors’ Dan Hope.

“We’ll let him kind of go through that. But this thing looks to be healing.”

Day made clear that a return is not imminent.

“It’s not going to be next week or next month,” Day said.

“It’s going to take some time, but I think certainly for the long term, we feel like we’re on a good track here.”

The phrasing — “on a good track for the long term” — is the most optimistic public signal Day has given since the injury.

Sayin was a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2025, finishing fourth in the voting.

In 14 games last season, he threw for 3,610 yards, 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

This season, through seven games, Sayin completed 131 of 192 passes (68.2%) for 2,007 yards, 19 touchdowns and four interceptions.

He also rushed for two touchdowns.

Day also revealed that Sayin has remained actively involved with the team despite the injury.

After the Indiana game, Sayin went back to his home state of California for treatment.

He was on Ohio State’s sideline during the USC loss, wearing a sling and sitting next to Fahey.

Since returning to Columbus after the USC game, Sayin has attended team meetings and helped Fahey prepare for Oregon.

“It’s been good to have him in the meetings, having Julian around the team,” Day said, via Bill Landis.

“You talk through a play and say, ‘Jules, anything you can add,’ and sometimes he’ll say something. He’s got a good feel for that. He communicates well.”

Day emphasized that Sayin’s presence says something about his character.

“I think it’s important for him to be around the guys,” Day said.

“I think it says a lot about him that he’s not just off doing his rehab. He’s with the team and takes his role very seriously.”

The timing of the update matters.

Ohio State (6-2, 4-1 Big Ten) hosts Oregon (5-3, 3-2) on Saturday in a game that carries major College Football Playoff implications.

The Buckeyes are No. 12 in the initial CFP ranking, and another loss would likely eliminate them from contention.

Sayin will not play against Oregon.

The question now is whether “long term” means the 2027 season — or something sooner.

Day did not rule out a potential return if Ohio State makes a deep playoff run, but he did not suggest one either.

The coach’s language — “not next week or next month” — suggests Sayin is unlikely to play again in 2026.