Ohio State’s quarterback Julian Sayin is out indefinitely, likely for the rest of the regular season, after a Week 7 win against Indiana where he got rattled and knocked out of the game. That’s a brutal blow, making you wonder if the Buckeyes really hold onto their top-5 ranking heading into a tough road test against USC on Saturday in the LA Memorial Coliseum.
Sayin Got Slammed, and the Bucks Still Won, Kinda
Look, Sayin’s last appearance, that Week 7 Indiana game, was a win for Ohio State, but it felt like a total pyrrhic victory. The dude just didn’t look right. He was rattled, out of rhythm, and you could tell he heard footsteps because Indiana’s front seven was just teeing off, sacking him four times. Even the Hoosiers’ coach, Curt Cignetti, knew the game plan: stop Jeremiah Smith by hitting Sayin before he could even get the ball near him. And honestly, sometimes those hits were perfectly timed, no flag, just pure football. Like a boxer wearing down his opponent, those body shots paid off late for Indiana, knocking Sayin out with his throwing arm in a sling. It’s football, it’s violent, and the hits weren’t even egregious. But when the offensive line can’t hold up for those first two seconds after the snap, and the QB isn’t protecting himself, well, that’s what happens. It was the second time in two games against the Hoosiers that both Sayin and the O-line failed to protect him, and this time, the cost was the starting quarterback.
The O-Line Is a Wall, Just Not for Their Own Guys
Now, after a bye week, with either Luke Fahey or talented former five-star Tavien St. Clair stepping in at quarterback against that USC defense, the offensive line’s job is suddenly even more critical. And let’s be real, the Buckeyes’ offensive line has been straight-up terrible against class football teams. We’re talking nine sacks given up in their last two games against Indiana alone! Plus, they’ve allowed at least two sacks to every single top-25 opponent this season. When you’ve got a brand-new quarterback, making his first start on the road, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what the opposing defense is going to do.
Fahey, St. Clair, and a Blitz-Filled Welcome
A former Power Four head coach spilled the tea: “It ain’t rocket science. Look, I’m putting in [a] quick-gam.” You know exactly what that means. USC’s defensive coordinator is going to be blitzing like crazy. The goal is simple: force Fahey, or St. Clair, to prove they can throw under duress. Sayin wasn’t even great at throwing into the blitz, so you know they’re going to turn the stovetop to its highest setting and throw the new QB straight into the frying pan early. This Saturday’s road test against USC isn’t just a game; it’s an audition for who leads this team through the rest of the regular season, and whether Ohio State can actually keep its top-5 ranking when the hits just keep on coming.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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