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Ohio State QB depth chart: Buckeyes could make change after Luke Fahey falls to 0-2 as starter
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- Ohio State QB depth chart: Buckeyes could make change after Luke Fahey falls to 0-2 as starter
Ohio State QB depth chart: Buckeyes could make change after Luke Fahey falls to 0-2 as starter originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Ohio State's offensive woes without Julian Sayin reared itself in a major way in the Buckeyes' latest match, a 41-28 defeat to Oregon that all but certainly dashed Ohio State's dreams of earning a place in the College Football Playoff.
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Ryan Day's side wasn't able to recreate the liveliness present within its offensive ranks when Julian Sayin was healthy on Saturday evening, falling behind early and struggling to mount much of a challenge.
Backup Luke Fahey huffed and puffed, eclipsing the 300-yard mark for the first time in his budding career. Despite his exploits, the Buckeyes were rendered toothless for much of the matchup, leading some to wonder how long he'll be allowed to helm Ohio State's attack.
With that, here's a look at the state of the Buckeyes' quarterback situation following their second defeat in as many weeks.
MORE: Is Ohio State out of the CFP?
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Ohio State QB depth chart
Here's how the Buckeyes' QB room shakes out after Sayin and Fahey.
| Rank |
Quarterback |
|---|---|
| 1. |
Julian Sayin (out) |
| 2. |
Luke Fahey |
| 3. |
Tavien St. Clair |
| 4. |
Justyn Martin |
Tavien St. Clair
A five-star prospect and the No. 2 QB in his class per 247Sports, St. Clair came to Columbus with outsized expectations. The two-way hurler has bided his time in the reserves, redshirting as a freshman. Blessed with a 6'4, 235-pound frame, St. Clair is a two-way star, pairing strong running skills with a lively arm. He has played sparingly in Ohio State colors, completing 5-of-6 passes for 52 yards and a touchdown in a blowout win over Ball State in September.
St. Clair is expected to take the reins for the Buckeyes sooner or later. Perhaps Day feels compelled to accelerate his ascension by handing him some snaps in the coming few weeks.
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Justyn Martin
Martin was a former four-star who has six appearances in five years of college football. The Inglewood, Calif. native played at UCLA and Maryland before transferring to Ohio State for his fifth and final season of eligibility. He shouldn't be considered a viable answer to the Fahey question — he hasn't attempted a pass since 2024 and has just one start under his belt.
MORE: Is LSU out of the CFP?
Will Ohio State bench Luke Fahey?
The Buckeyes' latest defeat effectively kills their chances of them advancing to the College Football Playoff. For Day and his staff, that should bring about a change in approach — one in which development is prioritized over everything else.
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Fahey is only a freshman and carries sizable potential. Still, he doesn't have the same pedigree as St. Clair, a player who some believed could be one of the best players in the nation when he joined the Bucks.
Day could very well feel compelled to start Fahey going forward. But it seems that an approach centered around observing what the Buckeyes have and don't have would be a more future-forward option. Fahey isn't the lone problem in Ohio State colors. But his inability to get the ball to his top targets — namely Jeremiah Smith — has been noticeable as of late, especially when compared to Sayin.
Day didn't turn away from Fahey during Saturday's defeat. Still, his leash appears likely to be shorter than it was when he first ascended to the top of the QB depth chart.
MORE: Texas strengthen CFP case with 4th-quarter road win over Missouri
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Ohio State offense with Luke Fahey
| Ohio State with Sayin |
Ohio State without Sayin |
|
| 6-1 |
Record |
0-2 |
| 476.3 |
Yards per game |
423.5 |
| 33.7 |
Points per game |
23.0 |
| 286.7 |
Passing yards per game |
310.0 |
What happened to Julian Sayin?
Sayin suffered an injury to his throwing arm towards the end of the Buckeyes' 19-15 win over Indiana on Oct. 17. Sayin exited the game swiftly after crashing to the ground following a sack. He returned to the sideline with his right arm cloaked by a sling.
Day provided a positive update on Sayin's health a few days ago, saying his injury is healing. He failed to provide a timetable for his return outside of saying "it's not gonna be next week or next month." He previously said the Buckeyes were preparing to be without Sayin for the remainder of the season.
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