Ohio State Ends Indiana's 22-Game Run but Loses Quarterback Sayin: A Shoulder Injury That Could Reshape the Playoff Race

Ohio State ended Indiana's 22-game winning streak in Bloomington with a tense 19-15 victory, the most talked-about result of the weekend. But the win has been overshadowed by one piece of news: starting quarterback Julian Sayin left the game with a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter, and that injury could reshape the entire College Football Playoff race.

The finish was breathless. With around a minute remaining, Indiana's Josh Hoover found a wide-open Nick Marsh in the end zone and the tying score seemed certain. Marsh's foot came down just out of bounds, however, and Ohio State held on to the 19-15 win.

Week seven was chaotic across college football. BYU took down Notre Dame, helped by yet another controversial last-second clock issue. Auburn beat heavily favored Georgia in Athens. Florida rose to upset Texas in Austin behind another disappointing performance from Arch Manning. Tennessee held Alabama's powerful offense to just 10 points in a big home win, and Miami's win over Florida State lifted the Hurricanes to No. 1.

The biggest blow, though, landed in Ohio State's own camp. In the fourth quarter, Indiana defensive lineman Mario Landino sacked Sayin, forcing a fumble, and Sayin was injured as he hit the ground. The 21-year-old junior immediately favored his right arm, went to the locker room and emerged a few minutes later with his arm in a sling.

After the game, head coach Ryan Day was light on specifics about the exact injury, but he admitted Sayin is likely to miss 'several weeks.' Day was adamant that true freshman backup Luke Fahey would be able to step in, particularly with a bye week approaching.

'We'll regroup,' Day said. 'We've got a good team. When Luke's in there, we just may need to do things just a little bit differently, but the bye week gives us a chance to regroup on that and put our heads together.' After replacing Sayin, Fahey went 0-for-2 passing, though he did draw a penalty that helped extend a Buckeyes drive.

Thanks to the 12-team playoff, the win and loss alone would not normally end either team's hopes, and this week's AP Top 25 reflects that: amid the carnage, Ohio State is No. 3 and Indiana is No. 5, with Miami on top. The problem is not the result; it is Sayin's shoulder.

After the bye, Ohio State travels to face No. 16 USC. With Sayin, the Buckeyes would be sizable favorites. With a true freshman making his first career start on the road, in a sold-out and hostile LA Coliseum, against a team hungry to reach the playoff for the first time under Lincoln Riley, the calculation changes significantly.

The schedule does not ease up after that. Oregon visits Columbus, and while that matchup no longer looks like the top-five battle expected in the preseason, the Ducks' defense remains extremely talented and recently beat a very good Nebraska team. Ranked Northwestern then comes to Columbus, followed by a trip to Nebraska and the season-ending clash with Michigan in 'The Game.'

Without specifics on the injury, it is hard to say how many games Sayin might miss, but even the USC game alone could have enormous ramifications. If the Trojans beat Wisconsin and Ohio State, they would move straight into the top 10, while a home slip against Oregon could suddenly leave the Buckeyes outside the top 12. That would open the door for more SEC or Big 12 teams, or even Iowa, whose closing schedule is relatively favorable.

The reverse is also possible. Ohio State could still beat USC on the road with a backup, given its defense, and Sayin could return by the first week of November, keeping the Buckeyes on track for the Big Ten Championship Game. Nearly half the season remains, and in a year when any team seems beatable by anyone, the Buckeyes suddenly face far more variables than expected.

For now, all of college football is watching one question: how serious is Sayin's shoulder injury, and when will he return? Ohio State's playoff fate, and the calculations of many other teams, hang on that single answer.