Ryan Day drops critical Julian Sayin injury timeline before Oregon

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

Day said Sayin’s recovery from an elbow injury suffered in Week 7 will take more time than originally expected.

“It’s not going to be next week, or next month – it’s going to take some time here,” Day said, via Eleven Warriors’ Dan Hope.

Sayin injured his right throwing elbow during Ohio State’s 19-15 win over Indiana on Oct. 17.

The junior was hit from his right side while attempting a pass in the fourth quarter, causing a fumble and the injury.

Day initially said Sayin would miss several weeks but later amended that to an indefinite timeline, likely ending the quarterback’s season.

“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 on his weekly radio show on 97.1 The Fan.

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

Sayin was a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2025, throwing for 3,610 yards, 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 14 games.

This season, he completed 131 of 192 passes (68.2%) for 2,007 yards, 19 touchdowns and four interceptions in seven games, adding two rushing scores.

His absence was felt immediately in Ohio State’s 30-18 loss to USC in Week 9.

Backup Luke Fahey went 21-of-38 for 260 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions but could not generate enough offense.

The Buckeyes dropped from No. 2 in the AP poll to No. 12 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday.

Day emphasized that Sayin remains involved with the team despite being sidelined.

“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 added that Sayin’s presence says a lot about his character.

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

For the long term, Day expressed cautious optimism about Sayin’s recovery.

“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.”