Ohio State head coach Ryan Day loaded up his roster to get back to the top of the Big Ten after three straight years with a loss to Michigan, but even a $20 million roster can’t withstand multiple season-ending injuries along the offensive line. In Ohio State’s lone loss of the season, the Buckeyes also lost starting left tackle Josh Simmons for the year with a knee injury, and leading up to a matchup with Indiana on Saturday in Columbus, they lost another starter.
Starting center Seth McLaughlin reportedly tore his Achilles during practice on Tuesday. McLaughlin, who transferred from Alabama to Ohio State this offseason was playing at an All-American level and was the best player up front for the Buckeyes. Day and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly were forced to shuffle the line around after Simmons went out with Zen Michalski filling in at left tackle until he also went down with an injury that forced All-American left guard Donovan Jackson to kick out to left tackle and backup center Carson Hinzman to move to left guard.
Now, the Buckeyes will have to make further changes to the line with McLaughlin’s injury. Hinzman will either kick back to center with Austin Siereveld filling in at left guard or Hinzman will stay at left guard and Josh Padilla will start at center. Either way, it will be a major downgrade for the No. 2 team in the country as it prepares to face No. 5 Indiana with the inside track to a spot in the Big Ten title game on the line.
Transfer quarterback Will Howard has been an upgrade over last year’s starter Kyle McCord (now at Syracuse), Ole Miss transfer Quinshon Judkins has added another dynamic element to the backfield alongside TreVeyon Henderson, and true freshman Jeremiah Smith has surprisingly fit right into Marvin Harrison Jr.’s sizeable shoes at wide receiver, but injuries to Simmons and McLaughlin are likely too much to overcome with the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff looming.
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Ohio State is still the favorite to win it all at +320 odds, ahead of Oregon at +440 and Georgia at +480, and the Buckeyes are 10.5-point favorites at home on Saturday. That game will be the first chance to see the impact of McLaughlin’s injury on Howard and the offense.
The transfer portal has made it harder to keep depth on the roster at every position, but quarterback and offensive line have been hit particularly hard on the best teams in the country. In the past, the Buckeyes may have had the bodies to weather this storm, but it’s hard to expect that without McLaughlin, they will be able to navigate, a top-five matchup with Indiana, a rivalry game with Michigan, a potential Big Ten Championship rematch with Oregon, and then at least three rounds of the College Football Playoff.
