Julian Sayin is out for several weeks, and that single fact knocked Ohio State from the No. 1 spot in Tom Fornelli’s power ratings for the first time all season. While the Buckeyes actually secured a win against Indiana last weekend, the cost was huge. This isn’t just some bump in the road, folks. Day’s “several weeks” quote is a gut punch that totally impacts their season and definitely sends them tumbling in the rankings.
Sayin’s Injury Crushes Buckeye Hopes, Fahey Steps Up (Maybe?)
Look, there’s no position more important than QB in college ball, right? And when your guy goes down, especially one leading the No. 1 team, it’s a disaster. We literally know nothing about Sayin’s backups. Luke Fahey had to step in after the injury against Indiana, and yeah, he struggled. Not what you want to see if you’re a Buckeye fan. The *only* silver lining here is Ohio State has a bye week coming up. That gives Fahey some time to actually prep for this new, massive role. Plus, having Jeremiah Smith at his disposal? That’s a huge help for any quarterback, even a new starter. But is it enough? Fornelli couldn’t be sure about the full drop-off, but it was enough to knock them down two spots from No. 1 to No. 3. This is a massive hit for a team that was crushing it and was one of only two top-five teams to even win last week.
The Top 5 Is a Wild Mess After Last Week
If you thought Ohio State’s fall was wild, you should’ve seen what happened last week. Fornelli’s top four teams and five of his top seven lost! Seven out of 12 featured teams took an L. Insane, right? Georgia, who was No. 2, now takes over the top spot, even though they *lost* to Auburn. Fornelli says the scoreboard matters for who won, but not for who’s gonna keep winning. The Dawgs still outplayed Auburn in most of the game, even if they had that crazy fumble running into their own center. Losing sucks, but Fornelli’s opinion on Georgia didn’t really change much. Then there’s Miami, who somehow climbed three spots to No. 2 after needing double overtime to beat Florida State. Rivals games get weird, that’s just how it is. And Notre Dame’s offense? Fornelli had to downgrade them after their performance against BYU, even in a tough environment.
What’s next for Ohio State? Well, it’s all on Luke Fahey. If he steps out against USC after the bye week and just absolutely balls out, then yeah, Ohio State could be right back at the top. But for now, that downgrade at QB was enough to send them tumbling. We’re all watching to see what Fahey brings to the field.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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