Ohio State QBs: Day Holds Off Naming Starter for USC Trip

Ohio State fans traveling to Los Angeles for Saturday’s game against USC will watch a new face under center. The Buckeyes have not named a starting quarterback for the contest, leaving the choice between freshman Luke Fahey and sophomore Tavien St. Clair. Neither player has started a college football game in their careers.

Head coach Ryan Day announced on Tuesday at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center that Julian Sayin will miss the game indefinitely. Sayin injured his shoulder during the team’s 19-15 victory over Indiana on October 17. Fahey entered that game immediately and has been competing with St. Clair since then.

Day noted that Fahey was ahead of St. Clair in the depth chart before the Indiana game. However, the coach emphasized that both players practiced well during the bye week. He stated that the team is working on specific packages for each quarterback this week. The decision will rest on which signal-caller gives the team the best chance to win on Saturday.

Day did not rule out using both quarterbacks during the game. He said it is definitely possible they will share the load, though specific situations and circumstances have yet to be determined. The coaching staff plans to make the final call after a few more days of work.

The game will be the first time Ohio State plays at LA Memorial Coliseum in Day’s tenure. It is also the first time the team has played in that specific stadium since 1989. The Buckeyes currently hold the No. 2 ranking, while USC is unranked after losing to Wisconsin 24-7 last Saturday.

Day stressed that the entire team must support the new starter. He said the defense, special teams, and offense must rally around whoever takes the field. He also asked for support from the fans, referring to them as Buckeye Nation. The goal remains to win the road game against a talented opponent.

Day described USC as one of the most talented teams he has seen on film. He acknowledged that road games are difficult to win in college football. The coach said the team must be at its best to compete, noting that nobody foresaw this specific injury scenario but that the roster is built to handle such challenges.