BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — No. 4 Ohio State earned a narrow 19-15 road victory over No. 5 Indiana on Saturday, but the win came at a steep cost after starting quarterback Julian Sayin suffered an arm injury that is expected to sideline him for multiple weeks.
Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day announced following the game that Sayin would likely miss several weeks after departing in the fourth quarter. The junior quarterback was struck from his right side on a sack, pinning his throwing arm awkwardly against his body. Sayin headed to the locker room and later reappeared on the sideline with his right arm in a sling. Outlets differed on the exact diagnosis, with Yahoo Sports describing an apparent right arm issue, Fox News citing a shoulder injury, and The Big Lead reporting a forearm ailment.
Dramatic finish in Bloomington
Sayin completed 15 of 29 passes for 235 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions before exiting the contest. Star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith hauled in four passes for 68 yards and the eventual game-winning touchdown from Sayin, though Indiana nearly staged a last-minute comeback.
With 1:02 remaining on the clock, Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover appeared to connect with wide receiver Nick Marsh for a potential go-ahead touchdown. However, officials ruled that Marsh came down barely out of bounds, preserving the Ohio State lead and snapping the Hoosiers’ 22-game winning streak. Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti expressed frustration over the missed opportunity, telling reporters, “We had it, but we just didn’t make it happen. It’s a hard one to swallow, learn from it and move on.”
Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia was visibly relieved after the defensive stand, telling fellow coaches after the game that he would rather not watch the final sequence again, according to Fox News.
Buckeyes turn to backup quarterback depth
Freshman quarterback Luke Fahey entered the game in relief of Sayin, failing to complete either of his two pass attempts as Ohio State relied on its defense to protect the advantage. Fahey, a former three-star recruit according to 247Sports Composite rankings cited by The Big Lead, is the expected front-runner to direct the offense during Sayin’s absence. The Buckeyes also have sophomore quarterbacks Tavien St. Clair and Kolton Stover on the depth chart, The Sporting News reported.
Before the injury, Sayin was building on a strong sophomore campaign in 2025, when he finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting after throwing 32 touchdowns and completing 77 percent of his passes. Through the first seven games this fall, Sayin had amassed 1,772 passing yards and 17 touchdowns against four interceptions.
Ohio State enters a timely bye week with a 6-1 record, giving the coaching staff an extra week of preparation before returning to action. The Buckeyes travel to face No. 19 Southern California on Oct. 31, followed by consecutive home matchups against Oregon and No. 25 Northwestern before finishing the regular season against Nebraska and Michigan.
