Is Julian Sayin's Future at Ohio State in Jeopardy After His Injury?

The public has formed its opinion on Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, and it isn't a positive one.

After struggling to start Saturday's game against Indiana, Sayin left the game with a shoulder injury that could potentially cost him the rest of his season. The conversation just a few days after the injury has turned from what will the Buckeyes do to end the season and it is inching closer to what the Buckeyes will do next year?

It's a pretty interesting development for a player who has seemingly been good for the Buckeyes in his two years as a starter. 

Unfortunately, this conversation makes a lot of sense from my perspective. I have questioned Sayin's ceiling from the start of the season because he is a very limited player. He lacks the arm strength that is necessary to be an elite quarterback at any level, and unfortunately, this year has exposed him when he doesn't have two first-round wide receivers to throw to.

The doubt crept in after last year's postseason run for the Buckeyes. He looked overmatched against Indiana in the Big Ten Championship and against Miami in the second round of the Playoff. He cost the Buckeyes a chance to make a run because he couldn't meet the moment.

Then, this year, in his first chance to change the narrative, he failed against the Texas Longhorns. Then, in his third chance to redeem himself, he turtled again against the Indiana Hoosiers, and that was before the injury.

He finished the game 15-for-29 for 235 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. He was not good and needed two fourth-down conversions and one Jeremiah Smith miracle to give the Buckeyes the lead.

Ohio State won the game against a really good Indiana team, but the same questions are back about Sayin and his future in Columbus might be in jeopardy. 

One of the perceived positives in today's College Football is that a team like Ohio State could identify a quarterback that they love from another school and show up at the door with a big bag of cash to make a move, and they can.

There are quarterbacks in college football that teams are winning because of, and not just game managers like the Buckeyes have in Columbus. 

The perception of Sayin is obviously very positive within the Buckeyes facility, and this story is pure speculation. We have to ask questions about the state of this team. Can the Buckeyes win with Sayin, who has a limited ceiling, or do they need to go find a true dual-threat player that they can win because of?

It will be fascinating to see how it all plays out and what the Buckeyes' temperature will get to, depending on how this next month goes with Luke Fahey at the helm.