Ohio State Holds No. 2 CFP Seed as Julian Sayin Faces Several-Week Absence
Updated
Updated · CBS Sports · Oct 20
Ohio State Holds No. 2 CFP Seed as Julian Sayin Faces Several-Week Absence
3 articles · Updated · CBS Sports · Oct 20
Summary
Ohio State stayed at No. 2 in the latest CFP projection, but Julian Sayin's injury has become a central variable in how the Buckeyes will be seeded — or even evaluated for inclusion.
Ryan Day said Monday the quarterback will miss "at least several weeks" after getting hurt in the fourth quarter against Indiana, with testing still ongoing and no firm return timetable.
The uncertainty matters because CFP protocol explicitly weighs the absence of key players; losses to USC or Oregon with backup Luke Fahey could be judged differently depending on whether Sayin is expected back.
Sayin's value is hard to overstate: through 7 games he ranks third nationally with 2,007 passing yards and 19 touchdowns, helping keep Ohio State in the national-title tier.
The situation echoes Florida State's 2023 snub after Jordan Travis' season-ending injury, making Sayin's recovery one of the playoff race's biggest second-half storylines.