Full Breakdown
Buckeyes Edge Indiana 19-15, Snap 22-Game Streak but Lose Starting Quarterback
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Game Summary and Quarterback Injury
On Oct 17, 2026 at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana, No. 4 Ohio State defeated No. 5 Indiana 19-15. The victory ended Indiana’s 22-game overall winning streak and its 19-game home streak, the two longest active runs in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Ohio State’s lead was secured after a fourth-quarter 38-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Julian Sayin to wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. Sayin left the game later in the fourth quarter after a sack by Indiana defensive lineman Mario Landino that forced him to the sideline with his right throwing arm in a sling.
Background & Context
The matchup served as revenge for Ohio State, which had lost to Indiana in the previous season’s Big Ten championship game. Both programs entered the contest with 6-1 records and top-five rankings, making the win a signature statement for the Buckeyes while simultaneously exposing a vulnerability at quarterback.
Data & Statistics
- Final score: Ohio State 19, Indiana 15.
- Julian Sayin: 15-of-29, 235 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT (second consecutive game with two interceptions).
- Indiana QB Josh Hoover: 20-of-40, 296 yards, 1 TD, 1 lost fumble (first turnover of the season).
- Jeremiah Smith: 4 receptions, 68 yards, 1 TD.
- Luke Fahey (freshman backup): 0-for-2 passing, no yards.
- Indiana’s winning streak: 22 games overall, 19 at home.
Official Statements & Responses
Day added that the Buckeyes will “regroup” and rely on the depth at quarterback, including true-freshman Luke Fahey and sophomore Tavien St. Clair.
Jeremiah Smith expressed concern for his teammate, stating that the Buckeyes “wish Julian a speedy recovery.” He also emphasized the team’s confidence in Fahey, telling the backup, “When we were on the sideline out there, I just told him. ‘We’ve got you.’”
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti reflected on his program’s loss, saying, “We had it, but we just didn’t make it happen.”
Offensive lineman Luke Montgomery praised Fahey’s composure, noting, “He has a certain moxie about him.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “We remember what happened Dec. 6,” — Jeremiah Smith
- “We wish Julian a speedy recovery,” — Jeremiah Smith
- “We had it, but we just didn’t make it happen,” — Curt Cignetti, indiana coach
- “I actually ran the wrong route,” — Jeremiah Smith
- “He has a certain moxie about him,” — Luke Montgomery
- “When we were on the sideline out there, I just told him.” — Jeremiah Smith
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact duration of Sayin’s expected absence. Ryan Day described the outlook as “several weeks,” while some outlets phrased it as “a couple of weeks.” No definitive medical diagnosis has been released, leaving the precise recovery timeline uncertain.
What’s Next
Ohio State’s next challenge arrives after the bye week, when the Buckeyes travel later in October to play USC on Halloween weekend. The team must decide whether Fahey will start or if a different backup will assume the role, a decision that will shape the Buckeyes’ pursuit of a College Football Playoff berth. Indiana, now off its streak, looks to rebound in its upcoming conference games.