Austin Siereveld out again as Ohio State visits Indiana

Siereveld was a late scratch against Maryland, and the hope all week was that it was a 1-game thing. It wasn't.

Pete Nakos

@PeteNakos

Ohio State starting OL Austin Siereveld is out again this week vs. Indiana. Ryan Day said earlier this week he missed the Maryland game due to a non-football illness. RB Ja'Kobi Jackson is also out. t.co/kFvpUR3lOC

After the Maryland game Ryan Day called Siereveld day-to-day. By Wednesday night the medical staff had decided he can't go, and that's a real loss. Siereveld has 26 career starts and made 2nd-team All-Big Ten last season. He's not a depth guy you can just slide someone in for. He's 1 of the 5 guys this offense is built on.

The patch job is Phillip Daniels, who is set to start at right tackle after missing Ohio State's last 4 games. Getting a starter back helps. Asking a guy who hasn't played in a month to walk into Bloomington for his first game back is still a big ask.

Pete Thamel

@PeteThamel

Big news for Ohio State. Starting offensive lineman Austin Siereveld is out for the Indiana game. This is the second-straight game he's missed.

The Jackson news might hurt even more. He started the last 2 games at running back and has been the Buckeyes' most efficient runner, averaging 6.0 yards per carry with 354 yards and 6 touchdowns through 6 games. He limped off during the Maryland game but finished it blocking on a touchdown play, so there wasn't much warning before he showed up on the report. Isaiah West, the 3rd-string back, is listed questionable, and Legend Bey is the other option behind him.

Now look at what's waiting for them. Indiana ranks No. 7 in the country in rushing defense at 75 yards allowed per game and No. 4 in yards per carry allowed at 2.3. Ohio State is going against that front with a reshuffled line and without its best runner. The list didn't stop with those 2 either: safeties Leroy Roker and Khmari Bing, receiver Amari Valerio-Hudson and offensive lineman Jaxon Powell are all out as well.

There is some good news. Ohio State held 5 starters out against Maryland, and the report says they're coming back. So the Buckeyes walk into the biggest game of their season with more bodies than they had last week, just not the 2 they'd most like to have. Watch whether Day trusts West and Bey to run into that Indiana front or puts the game on the passing game early. And watch Daniels on the right side, because the Hoosiers will go right at him until he proves he's back.