Ohio State beat Maryland 45-16 on Saturday, but the comfortable final score masked a real problem: six starters were missing, and head coach Ryan Day says some of the absences had nothing to do with football. Now the Buckeyes must face the defending national champions in Bloomington with their lineup still in question.
Speaking on Monday's Buckeye Roundtable show, Day offered cautious optimism but stopped well short of promising a full roster for Saturday's top-five clash at Indiana.
“I don't know if we'll get them all back, but I'm hoping to get the majority of these guys back,” Day said, per Eleven Warriors' Dan Hope. “We'll see how they come in tomorrow. It was kind of a strange week, with some strange things, a few non-football-related issues that popped up. So we just had to manage it the best we could. But yeah, I don't think we'll get all of them back, but we should get a good portion of them back for Indiana.”
What happened against Maryland?
Six Ohio State starters sat out the Maryland game: McCuin, Timmons, Daniels, Siereveld, Alliegro, and Inniss. Their situations were not identical.
McCuin and Timmons were game-time decisions who took part in portions of pregame warmups before being held out. Their participation suggests both could be back against Indiana if they progress during the week of practice.
Daniels has missed four straight games since getting hurt against Texas. Day sounded encouraged about his outlook after the Maryland win.
“I think we can get Phil back,” Day said. “I think he'll have a full week of practice. That's the plan.”
Even so, Daniels has to make it through that full week before anyone treats his return as certain.
The Iowa connection and a late lineup scramble
Siereveld, Alliegro, and Inniss had all played in Ohio State's game against Iowa, then were ruled out against Maryland. Siereveld's case was the most disruptive: a source familiar with the situation attributed his absence to an illness rather than a football injury, and the Buckeyes learned he would not play just hours before kickoff. Day described his status afterward as “day-to-day.”
The late scratch forced a reshuffle along the offensive line. Gabe VanSickle slid over to right tackle while Jake Cook stepped in at right guard. Ohio State survived the afternoon with a 29-point win, but Indiana is a different kind of test.
Day did not detail the “non-football-related issues” he referenced, and he declined to attach specific explanations to each absence. The mystery only adds to the uncertainty heading into a game Ohio State cannot afford to lose if it wants control of the Big Ten race.
Why Saturday's game matters so much
The stakes go beyond the rankings. Indiana beat Ohio State 13-10 in last December's Big Ten Championship Game, then went on to win the national title. The Buckeyes get their shot at redemption on October 17 in Bloomington, with both teams ranked in the top five.
Walking into that rematch with a depleted lineup is hardly the ideal setup. The next few days of practice should give a clearer picture of whether Day will have enough of his starters available against the program that knocked the Buckeyes off the conference summit.
What Iowa fans should watch
Iowa already saw this Ohio State team up close, and the Hawkeyes' own conference schedule makes Saturday's result relevant in the Big Ten standings. If Indiana takes down a short-handed Ohio State, the Hoosiers tighten their grip on the conference title picture that Iowa and every other Big Ten contender must navigate.
FAQ
Which six Ohio State starters missed the Maryland game?
McCuin, Timmons, Daniels, Siereveld, Alliegro, and Inniss all sat out the 45-16 win over Maryland.
Why did Ryan Day call it a “strange week”?
Day said several “non-football-related issues” disrupted the lineup, though he did not explain what those issues were or tie them to specific players.
When is Ohio State vs. Indiana?
The top-five matchup is scheduled for Saturday, October 17, in Bloomington, Indiana.