Ohio State is starting to get crushed by injuries. The Buckeyes confirmed that Julian Sayin is likely going to miss the rest of the regular season, and that is the most significant injury. However, it's far from the only injury that the Ohio State Buckeyes are dealing with during the toughest stretch of the schedule.
Austin Siereveld missed last week with a mystery illness. Kenyatta Jackson had to be carried off the field after being hurt against the Hoosiers. Ja'kobi Jackson missed the game entirely with an injury. That injury has now been disclosed, and he is now out for an extended period of time.
Ohio State RB Ja'Kobi Jackson is likely out until at least the final game of the year
According to Eleven Warriors, the Buckeyes will be without Ja'Kobi Jackson until at least the Michigan game. He had surgery for a Lisfranc injury. That means that Ohio State is going to be without one of its key players who really could've helped out Luke Fahey,
Without Jackson, Ohio State will have to rely on Bo Jackson, who has been wildly inconsistent. In addition, Isaiah West is likely going to get more snaps. They clearly trust him more than they do Legend Bey, who did nothing with his added snap total against the Hoosiers.
This is not the news that Ohio State fans were hoping for. Luke Fahey needs all the help he can get for the next few weeks. Day and Arthur Smith are going to have to find a way to get Fahey comfortable enough to not just exist in the offense, but thrive. Jeremiah Smith helps with that, too.
Based on the way Day was talking, it looks like Sayin's year is done. That's why this injury to Jackson is so important. He has been the most consistent running back on the roster so far this year. Not having that presence for Fahey is really disappointing.
Ohio State desperately needs Bo Jackson to step up
Coming into the year, the Buckeyes were really hoping that Bo Jackson was going to take a leap up in production. He earned the starting running back position last year as a freshman, so it was reasonable to expect him to come in this year and look even better.
However, that hasn't happened so far. Jackson has just one game in which he was rushed for more than 100 yards. Against the Hoosiers, the Buckeyes had just 56 yards on 18 carries. He has yet to turn into a high-performing star. They need him now more than ever.
If Ohio State is going to do what the 2014 team did, the Buckeyes are going to have to lean heavily on the running game and the defense. That's the only realistic way that Ohio State ends up winning a national title. As great as Jeremiah Smith is, he needs someone to be able to throw him the ball.
Finding that guy for the next five games is going to either break this season or shape Ryan Day into the greatest Ohio State coach since Woody Hayes.
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