Ohio State starts freshman quarterback Luke Fahey against USC
The Buckeyes turned to freshman Luke Fahey for his first career start on the road against USC after an injury sidelined Julian Sayin.
Ohio State started freshman Luke Fahey at quarterback against USC on October 31, marking the first career start for the young passer. Fahey stepped into the starting role as the Buckeyes adjusted to life without Julian Sayin, who was sidelined indefinitely after suffering a shoulder injury during a victory over Indiana two weeks prior.
Sayin had made 21 consecutive starts and finished as a Heisman Trophy finalist as a redshirt freshman last year. His absence leaves No. 2 Ohio State in an unsettled situation at the most prominent position on the field as the team enters a crucial stretch of the regular season with both Big Ten and national championship aspirations.
During practice leading up to the prime-time matchup at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Fahey split first-team repetitions with redshirt freshman Tavien St. Clair. Head coach Ryan Day evaluated both young quarterbacks in a rare midseason competition before ultimately deciding to start Fahey against the Trojans.
Day praised both quarterbacks for their strong preparation throughout the week. "Guys on the team have confidence that if both were put in the game, that they can do their job," Day stated after a practice session.
Fahey had served as the backup quarterback throughout the season, positioning himself to move up the depth chart when St. Clair briefly made a push during the team's bye week. Having enrolled at Ohio State in January as a three-star recruit out of Southern California, Fahey quickly earned praise from the coaching staff for his competitiveness and preparation.
The injury to Sayin occurred in the fourth quarter against Indiana when he was sacked by defensive lineman Mario Landino. Fahey entered the game in relief, scrambling for 8 yards on his first snap, though his subsequent two passes fell incomplete. Earlier in the season, Fahey saw limited action in blowout victories over Ball State and Kent State, completing nine of 11 passes for 203 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
The game against USC marks the first meeting between the two powerhouse programs as members of the Big Ten Conference. While Ohio State entered the contest holding a 6-1 record, USC looked to rebound on its home field following a loss to Wisconsin that pushed the Trojans out of the AP Top 25.