Ryan Day drops critical QB injury update before Oregon showdown

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day provided a critical injury update on quarterback Julian Sayin ahead of the Buckeyes’ Week 10 matchup against Oregon.

Sayin suffered an elbow injury during Ohio State’s Week 7 win over Indiana.

The injury occurred in the middle of the fourth quarter while the Buckeyes were driving down the field.

Sayin was hit from his right side while looking to throw a pass to his left.

The hit caused a fumble and injured his elbow.

Ohio State has been without its starting quarterback ever since.

The Buckeyes lost to USC 30-18 in Week 9, their first game without Sayin.

Freshman Luke Fahey made his first career start against the Trojans.

Fahey completed 21 of 38 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown.

But Ohio State’s offense struggled to finish drives despite outgaining USC 464–338.

Penalties, dropped passes and a costly turnover repeatedly stalled momentum.

Day confirmed that Fahey will remain the starter against Oregon.

“Like we said going into it, we all gotta help this guy out, and I don’t think we did,” Day said after the USC loss.

Now the Buckeyes face a must-win game against the Ducks to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive.

Day addressed Sayin’s status on Thursday, via Eleven Warriors’ Dan Hope.

“It’s not going to be next week, or next month – it’s going to take some time here, but I think certainly for the long term, we feel like we’re on a good track here,” Day said.

The update suggests Sayin will likely miss the remainder of the regular season.

A return next month appears unlikely based on Day’s wording.

The long-term outlook, however, is more encouraging.

Day indicated that the elbow appears to be healing properly.

“All things considered, the outcome with the different options of what we thought it could be, this has been a decent outcome for us and for him,” Day said.

Sayin could potentially return to Ohio State next season instead of declaring for the NFL draft.

Despite being sidelined, Sayin has remained actively involved with the team.

“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 the value of Sayin’s presence beyond physical rehab.

“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.”

Sayin’s injury has reshaped Ohio State’s season.

The Buckeyes entered the year with College Football Playoff aspirations.

Those hopes now hang in the balance after the USC loss.

Ohio State still has the offensive talent to compete, according to Day.

“I think it does hurt missing some guys, but I think at the end of the day, we feel like we have enough here to win these games,” Day said.

But self-inflicted mistakes have been the team’s biggest problem.

Running back Isaiah West did not hold back when asked about the errors.

“There’s no reason we should be jumping offsides. There’s no reason we should have 12 people on the field. There’s no reason we should be holding. Like, this is day one fundamental stuff,” West said.

West also warned that Oregon’s record is deceiving.

The Ducks have the talent to overpower the Buckeyes if Ohio State does not play clean football.

Oregon’s pass rush presents a specific challenge for freshman quarterback Luke Fahey.

The Ducks feature two dangerous edge rushers in Matayo Uiagalelei, who has six sacks this season, and Teitum Tuioti, who has 5.5.

Ohio State’s offensive line will need to step up to protect Fahey.