Jay Timmons doubtful for Ohio State vs. USC

Ohio State put out only 1 change between Wednesday's report and Friday's, and it's the one Buckeyes fans least wanted to see.

Shotgun Spratling

@ShotgunSpr

Only change on the #USC-#OhioState Friday availability report is a notable one as Buckeyes starting DB Jay Timmons has been downgraded from questionable to doubtful. No changes to the #USC injury report.

That last line matters too. USC's report didn't move at all, so the Trojans go into a home game with their playoff hopes on the line and nothing new to worry about. Ohio State, meanwhile, will probably be without the guy who might be its best defensive player, and he's only a true freshman.

This has been building for a while. Timmons sat out 2 straight games before he came back against Indiana on October 17, and he was all over the field in that one: 7 tackles, 2 pass breakups and a forced fumble. Then he looked to get hurt on Indiana's last drives and got pulled. Under Big Ten reporting rules the injury hasn't been named. Ryan Day said Wednesday that Timmons would travel to Los Angeles and that the staff would "see how the next couple of days go." After 2 more days, he went the wrong way on the report.

Dan Hope

@Dan_Hope

Jay Timmons has been downgraded to doubtful for tomorrow’s game against USC. Brandon Inniss remains listed as questionable. t.co/JCBc4sHpeK

Inniss holding at questionable is the other storyline, and it lands on an offense that's already thin. Julian Sayin is out indefinitely after getting hurt against Indiana, running back Ja'Kobi Jackson had foot surgery, and Ohio State has ruled out 10 players for this trip. A new quarterback could really use his receivers healthy. The Buckeyes could lose both a starting DB and a top target on the same night.

The stakes are real on both sides. Ohio State comes in 6-1 and hasn't won at USC since 1946. The Trojans are basically playing an elimination game for the playoff. A defense without Timmons will have to hold up in a hostile Coliseum with no margin for error.

Tim May

@TIM_MAYsports

Tonight's availability report for tomorrow's @OhioStateFB at @uscfb . The last will be issued 2 hours before game. The major change from tonight's list from Wednesday's was DB @jay__timmons moving from questionable to doubtful.

So there's 1 more report coming, 2 hours before kickoff, and that's when we find out for sure. Doubtful usually means out. If Timmons somehow shows up on the field Saturday night it's a huge bonus, but Ohio State should plan for a secondary without him and hope Inniss gets cleared on the other side of the ball.