Injury Report for Saturday's Game Spells Concern for Both Ohio State and USC

The injury report heading into the weekend is significant for both teams in critical positions for both teams as this monster matchup looms.

The storyline that has dominated the past week has very obviously been at the quarterback position with Julian Sayin being out. It still is a bummer to see his name at the top of the injury report and the reality is finally setting in that the Buckeyes are going to have to try and go make a run with one of their backups.

Who that backup is is still to be determined. Ryan Day is playing a game of cat and mouse and is holding that information close to the vest. We will learn who the Buckeyes' starter will be when the team takes the field on Saturday night.

It's another week of running back Ja'Kobi Jackson being on the report which spells again spells toruble for the Buckeyes running game. Although Jackson took control of the second running back spot, Isaiah West looked really good in his absence against Indiana last week. The hope is that to continue.

A couple of other important names popped up on the report this week, including wide receivers Brock Boyd and Brandon Inniss. Both of those players had their fair share of hype coming into the season and have seen nearly all that much production, at least up to this point.

Inniss is listed as questionable and will give it a pregame workout before that decision comes to light. 

The major concern that popped up this week was defensive back Jay Timmons, who is listed as questionable for Saturday. Timmons has been one of the major bright spots for the Buckeyes so far this year, especially as a true freshman. He is a really great complement to Devin Sanchez on the other side of the field, and he will be a game-time decision.

For USC, their injury report has a couple of depth pieces on it but no critical starters on the roster. The biggest name on the report for the Trojans is tight end Mark Bowman, who is the starting tight end and has the most production through the air.

 Two depth wide receivers, a pair of depth pieces up front, and a depth linebacker are the only ones who are confirmed to be out.

Ohio State certainly has the more critical pieces on the injury report, but it doesn't matter at all. They need to be ready to roll against the Trojans. 

Regardless of everything, Saturday night is a game the Buckeyes just need to win. This is an all-hands-on-deck approach to scoring just one more point than the Trojans, no matter what. 

The Buckeyes are going to missing a couple of critical pieces, but no surprises that will totally alter the outcome of this game.