COLUMBUS — Ohio State's defense came up big Saturday in the Buckeyes' 19-15 victory over defending national champion Indiana. With quarterback Julian Sayin now expected to miss several weeks because of an arm injury, that same defense may be called upon to save Ohio State's season again and again until he returns.
The Buckeyes are 6-1, ranked No. 3 in the country, and coming off one of their biggest wins of the season. But the victory came at a considerable cost, with Sayin leaving in the fourth quarter after suffering an injury to his throwing arm.
Nobody knows exactly what Ohio State's offense will look like without its starting quarterback. Luke Fahey replaced Sayin against Indiana, but Ryan Day has a bye week to evaluate his options before the Buckeyes travel to USC on October 31.
One thing there is no doubt about, however: Ohio State's defense will have to carry much of the load while the offense adjusts.
The Defense Answered Against Indiana
Indiana entered Saturday averaging more than 220 rushing yards per game. Ohio State held the Hoosiers to just 73, forcing quarterback Josh Hoover to shoulder most of the offensive responsibility.
Hoover finished with 296 passing yards but completed only 20 of his 40 attempts. Indiana managed just one rushing first down and lost two fumbles, giving Ohio State's defense opportunities to help offset the Buckeyes' two interceptions.
The Buckeyes also held Indiana scoreless in the first and third quarters, allowing the offense to build a lead despite an inconsistent performance from Sayin.
Indiana had its opportunities. The Hoosiers gained 369 total yards, converted eight of 16 third downs, and came within inches of scoring the winning touchdown in the final minute. If Nick Marsh gets his left foot down inbounds, Ohio State likely leaves Bloomington with a loss.
But Ohio State made enough defensive plays to survive. The Buckeyes disrupted Indiana's running game, forced turnovers, and kept one of the Big Ten's better offenses in check for most of the afternoon.
The Browns May Have Provided the Blueprint
Interestingly, Ohio State may need to approach its next several games much like the Cleveland Browns have approached their season.
The Browns are 4-2 and sitting atop the AFC North despite an offense that has struggled to move the football consistently. Their defense has repeatedly kept games close, giving the offense enough opportunities to make a few plays and find a way to win.
Sunday's 13-10 victory over Baltimore was another example. Cleveland fell behind 10-0 in the first quarter, but its defense shut out the Ravens the rest of the way. The offense eventually found its footing, scoring 13 unanswered points, including the game-winning field goal as time expired.
Ohio State may need to follow that same formula until Sayin returns. Although we can all agree that none of us hope any of these games come down to a field goal. And I'm not saying any more than that.
The Buckeyes don't necessarily need their replacement quarterback to put up huge numbers. They need someone who can protect the football, sustain enough drives to give the defense a break, and make a handful of important plays when opportunities arise. And for the record, not all of this comes down to a quarterback. It comes down to everyone on that offense elevating his game — particularly the offensive line and running backs.
If Ohio State's defense can consistently limit opponents to manageable scores, the offense won't have to carry the entire burden of winning games while it adjusts to a new quarterback.
A Different Challenge Without Sayin
Ohio State's offense has been explosive at times this season, with Sayin directing a passing attack featuring Jeremiah Smith and, well, more Jeremiah Smith.
Replacing that production won't be easy, particularly with relatively inexperienced quarterbacks among the leading options to take over.
Fahey, a true freshman, completed neither of his two pass attempts after replacing Sayin against Indiana, although that brief appearance isn't enough to judge what he might accomplish with a full week of preparation. Tavien St. Clair, a sophomore, is another option Day can evaluate during the bye. Perhaps Ohio State could even use a mix of the two depending on the situation, with St. Clair getting opportunities in certain packages, such as near the goal line.
Whoever takes over will face a lot of pressure. Ohio State has championship expectations, and the remaining schedule leaves little room for mistakes.
Until the offense demonstrates that it can remain productive without Sayin, the defense may find itself playing with very little margin for error.
The Schedule Won't Make Things Easy
Ohio State gets a much-needed week off before traveling to USC on October 31. The Buckeyes then return home to face Oregon on November 7, followed by Northwestern, Nebraska, and Michigan to close the regular season.
That's a difficult stretch for a team potentially breaking in a new starting quarterback, especially with the Big Ten championship and College Football Playoff still within reach.
The defense will need to make opposing offenses work for every yard, limit big plays, and create turnovers that give Ohio State's offense shorter fields.
Saturday's performance against Indiana provided a good example. The Buckeyes didn't dominate every aspect of the game, but their defense did enough to help overcome an inconsistent offensive performance against a highly ranked opponent.
They may need to win more games exactly that way.
Can the Defense Carry Ohio State?
There's a difference between having a good defense and having one capable of carrying a championship contender. Ohio State may soon find out which one it has.
The Buckeyes have plenty of offensive talent, and Day has a history of developing quarterbacks. It's entirely possible that Fahey, St. Clair, or a combination of the two could step in and keep the offense productive.
But until someone proves capable of doing that, Ohio State's defense will be its most dependable asset.
The Browns have shown this season that a strong defense can keep a struggling offense in games long enough to find a way to win. Ohio State may need to rely on that same approach while Sayin recovers.
Saturday's victory over Indiana showed that the Buckeyes can win when their offense isn't at its best. With Sayin sidelined for an uncertain number of games, they'll need to prove they can do it consistently.
