Ryan Day: Ohio State's must-win Oregon showdown is no joke.

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day made it plain this week.

‘We’re not allowed to lose.’

That was his message ahead of Saturday’s showdown against No. 1 Oregon.

The Buckeyes are 6-2 after a 30-18 loss to USC in Week 9.

Starting quarterback Julian Sayin is out with an elbow injury suffered in a Week 7 win over Indiana.

Day confirmed Sayin will miss the Oregon game.

‘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 Thursday, via Eleven Warriors reporter Dan Hope.

Sayin was hit from his right side while trying to throw left in the fourth quarter against Indiana.

The hit caused a fumble and injured his elbow.

He is not expected back this season, though Day left the door open for a return in 2027.

‘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.

‘It looks to be healing.’

Even while injured, Sayin remains around the team.

Day said the quarterback attends meetings and occasionally offers input on plays.

‘It’s been good to have him in the meetings, having Julian around the team,’ Day said.

‘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: ‘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.’

With Sayin out, true freshman Luke Fahey will make his second career start against Oregon.

In his first start against USC, Fahey completed 21 of 38 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown.

The Buckeyes outgained USC 464-338 and held the ball for 39 minutes and 28 seconds.

But they lost.

Penalties, dropped passes and a costly turnover stalled drives.

Red-zone execution was especially poor.

‘There’s no reason we should be jumping offsides,’ running back Isaiah West said.

‘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.’

Day acknowledged the team did not support Fahey well enough.

‘Like we said going into it, we all gotta help this guy out, and I don’t think we did,’ Day said.

He also said the coaching staff must do a better job putting Fahey in position to succeed.

Oregon’s defense presents a serious challenge.

The Ducks have two dangerous edge rushers: Matayo Uiagalelei with six sacks and Teitum Tuioti with 5.5.

Ohio State’s offensive line will need to protect Fahey against that pass rush.

Despite the injuries and the loss to USC, Day insisted the roster has enough talent to win.

‘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.

West warned that Oregon’s record is deceiving.

He said the Ducks have the talent to overpower the Buckeyes if Ohio State does not play clean.

Day’s blunt assessment — ‘We’re not allowed to lose’ — reflects the stakes.

Ohio State entered the season with College Football Playoff aspirations.

After two losses, the margin for error is gone.

A third loss would likely eliminate the Buckeyes from playoff contention.

The Oregon game is in Eugene.

Oregon is undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the country.

Ohio State has not faced a road environment this hostile all season.