Ohio State’s national championship hopes aren’t dead with Luke Fahey at quarterback

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The Ohio State Buckeyes’ national championship hopes took a massive hit when quarterback Julian Sayin injured his throwing arm against Indiana. Losing a quarterback who had thrown for 2,007 yards and 19 touchdowns through seven games is obviously not ideal. However, if there’s one thing Ohio State fans should know, it’s that a quarterback injury doesn’t automatically end a championship run.

Just ask Cardale Jones.

Luke Fahey is now in position to take over an Ohio State team loaded with talent on both sides of the ball. He is inexperienced, undersized, and coming off a brief appearance against one of the best teams in the country. There are plenty of reasons to be concerned.

But there are also reasons the Buckeyes can survive this.

Fahey Offers Ohio State a Different Dimension

The biggest reason for optimism is Fahey’s mobility. Sayin was a highly productive passer, but he wasn’t the kind of quarterback who consistently threatened defenses with his legs. Fahey has shown flashes of being able to escape pressure, extend plays, and pick up yards when a passing opportunity breaks down.

That could give offensive coordinator Arthur Smith another way to keep drives alive.

Ohio State doesn’t need Fahey to replicate Sayin’s passing production immediately. Instead, the Buckeyes should lean more heavily on the running game, use play-action and rollouts, and give Fahey opportunities to make decisions on the move. If the first read isn’t there, he can take off rather than force a throw into coverage.

There’s a difference between asking a freshman quarterback to carry an offense and building an offense that allows him to succeed.

Fahey has already flashed some passing ability, too. In mop-up appearances against Ball State and Kent State, he completed nine of 11 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns, although he also threw two interceptions. Those numbers are encouraging, even if the competition and limited sample require some perspective.

His appearance against Indiana was less impressive. He went 0-for-2 passing, but his first play was an eight-yard scramble on second-and-28 that helped Ohio State earn a first down after a personal foul. The athleticism was evident, even if the passing production wasn’t.

Ohio State Has Been Here Before

Ohio State fans don’t have to look far for a reason to believe. The 2014 national championship team went through multiple quarterback changes before finishing the season on top.

Braxton Miller was lost before the season. J.T. Barrett stepped in and led the Buckeyes to a Big Ten championship game appearance, only to suffer a season-ending injury against Michigan. That left Cardale Jones, a third-string quarterback who proceeded to lead Ohio State past Alabama and Oregon in the inaugural College Football Playoff.

Jones brought a different element to the offense with his powerful arm and ability to attack defenses downfield. Ohio State didn’t need him to be Barrett. It needed him to make the plays that suited his skill set. Fahey’s situation isn’t identical, but the principle is the same. A different quarterback can force an offense to change, and those adjustments don’t have to be a disadvantage.

Of course, Jones had an outstanding offensive line, Ezekiel Elliott delivering a historic postseason run, and a defense that made critical plays. Fahey would need similar help from the supporting cast.

Florida State Shows Why This Is Still a Risk

The cautionary tale is Florida State in 2023. The Seminoles finished the regular season undefeated after losing quarterback Jordan Travis to a season-ending injury, but the College Football Playoff committee left them out of the four-team field.

Florida State still won its remaining games. The committee’s decision was about how the team looked without Travis and whether it remained one of the four best teams in the country.

That matters for Ohio State, too. The Buckeyes have ambitions beyond simply making the playoff. If the offense struggles without Sayin, the selection committee could view Ohio State differently, even if the defense keeps it competitive.

Fahey also has to prove he can handle a full game against starting defenses. His early numbers came in limited action, and his size raises legitimate questions about how much contact he can absorb if Ohio State makes him a regular part of the running game.

The Buckeyes Still Have the Pieces

The good news is that Fahey won’t be doing this alone. Jeremiah Smith remains the best player in college football, and Ohio State has a defense capable of keeping games within reach. That gives the coaching staff room to build a more conservative, run-oriented offense while the freshman gets comfortable.

None of this guarantees another championship run. Fahey has a steep learning curve, and Ohio State must still settle its quarterback situation, with Tavien St. Clair also receiving an opportunity during the bye week. Still, Sayin’s injury doesn’t mean the season is over.

Ohio State’s championship hopes are diminished, not dead. If Fahey can protect the football, use his legs intelligently, and take advantage of the talent around him, the Buckeyes can remain a legitimate contender.

The question isn’t whether Fahey can be Julian Sayin. It’s whether he can be the quarterback Ohio State needs him to be.

And history says that’s possible.

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