Ohio State got the big win they were looking for against Indiana. It was a top-five matchup, and the Buckeyes were looking for revenge from last year. It's a win that gives Ohio State a bigger buffer to make the College Football Playoff. They can afford another loss.
However, the Buckeyes had a big loss of their own. They lost Julian Sayin in the fourth quarter after he was knocked out. Ryan Day has said that he will be out for several weeks. That timeline is fuzzy, but it's not a good one. Had Ohio State kept Phillip Daniels off the field, this wouldn't have happened.
Ohio State didn't miss Phillip Daniels when he was gone
The Buckeyes were without starting right tackle Phillip Daniels for four weeks. He got hurt against Texas, and this IU game was the first game he had returned. He is the reason that Sayin was put in a sling and will be out for however many weeks. Daniels got burned badly on the play Sayin was hurt.
Quite frankly, Ohio State didn't miss Daniels on the right side. When Austin Siereveld was healthy, they just moved him to right tackle and put Gabe VanSickle at right guard. That combination worked perfectly fine. It actually was a better combination than the original starting lineup they had.
Had Daniels not been on the field, the Buckeyes would have Sayin still on the field. They wouldn't be playing their backup while they are still trying to make the College Football Playoff. Daniels didn't even play well last year at the end of the season when he was their starter.
Ryan Day must not have any better options. When Siereveld gets healthy, Daniels should be riding the bench. They should move Siereveld to right tackle and have VanSickle at guard. It's the best way for the Buckeyes to keep winning games and protect the quarterback.
Ohio State has to run the ball better without Julian Sayin
Without Sayin on the field, the Buckeyes have to be able to run the ball better. Bo Jackson is going to be the main running back carrying the ball, just as he was against IU. Isaiah West actually played well when given opportunities. Meanwhile, Legend Bey floundered with the ones he was given.
Keeping Daniels off the field would be the smart move for them moving forward. The transfer from Minnesota hasn't proven that he can play consistently enough, even two years into his starting gig. With a backup out there, protecting the quarterback will be even more important.
Against IU, the Buckeyes ran for only 78 yards. They have to be better than that down the stretch if they are going to continue to win games. The bye week could not have come at a better time for the Ohio State Buckeyes, though. Giving Sayin a free week to rest up the injury and get Fahey ready will be key.
It's not an ideal situation. Tyler Bowen hasn't done a very good job of coaching up this unit. He has shown the ability to recruit at volume, but his actual coaching still remains a question mark.
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