COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The No. 2 ranked Buckeyes will play their third game against a top-five team Saturday but will be missing their star center.
Six players are not available for Ohio State for its noon kickoff against No. 5 Indiana at Ohio Stadium and one of them is center Seth McLaughlin. Head coach Ryan Day confirmed on Wednesday that the Alabama transfer would miss the remainder of the season after tearing his Achilles tendon in practice on Tuesday.
McLaughlin started all ten of Ohio State's previous games this season and joins Josh Simmons as the second offensive lineman to sustain a season-ending injury. Carson Hinzman is set to start at center against the Hoosiers while Austin Siereveld will play at left guard.
The Buckeyes (9-1) are looking to hand Indiana its first loss of the season. This game can be considered a Big Ten semifinal with the winner having a high probability to meet Oregon in the conference championship game on Dec. 7 in Indianapolis.
A loss for Ohio State takes them out of the picture to make the Big Ten championship game but still keeps its playoff hopes intact. The Buckeyes have not played in the conference title game since 2020.
