Ohio State suffers another massive blow to its offense and national championship hopes

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day filled 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 dollar list 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, before a matchup with Indiana on Saturday in Columbus, lost another starter.

Starting center Seth McLaughlin reportedly tore his Achilles during practice on Tuesday. McLaughlin, who transferred from Alabama to Ohio State in the offseason, played 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 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 the left tackling and backup. center Carson Hinzman to move to left guard.

Now, the Buckeyes will have to make additional changes on 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 big downgrade for the No. 2 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 along with TreVeyon Henderson, and true freshman Jeremiah Smith has surprisingly fit right in with Marvin Harrison Jr. .’s big shoes at wide receiver, but injuries to Simmons and McLaughlin are likely too much to overcome with the initial 12-team College Football Playoff looming.

According to FanDuel SportsbookOhio State remains 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 more difficult to maintain depth on the roster at every position, but quarterback and offensive line are particularly hard hit on the best teams in the country. In the past, the Buckeyes may have had the body to weather this storm, but it’s hard to expect that without McLaughlin they’ll 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.