Ryan Day said Monday that he expects most, but not all, of the six starters who missed Ohio State’s 45-16 win over Maryland to return for Saturday’s game at No. 5 Indiana. The most likely returns are receiver Devin McCuin and nickelback Jay Timmons, and Day said he planned for lineman Phillip Daniels to be back. Kickoff is noon ET on FOX.
Day spoke on the Buckeye Roundtable show on the Ohio State Sports Network. He didn’t name every player, so here’s what’s confirmed, what’s likely, and what’s still unknown.
Who Missed the Maryland Game
| Player | Position | What happened vs. Maryland | Outlook for Indiana |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devin McCuin | WR | Game-time decision, partial warmups, sat out | Most likely to return, per reports |
| Jay Timmons | Nickelback | Game-time decision, partial warmups, sat out | Most likely to return, per reports |
| Phillip Daniels | OL (right tackle) | Missed his fourth straight game | Day said the plan is for him to be back |
| Austin Siereveld | OL | Ruled out hours before kickoff | Not specified |
| Christian Alliegro | LB | Out | Not specified |
| Brandon Inniss | WR | Out | Not specified |
Day made clear not everyone returns. After the game he said the team wouldn’t get every player on the list back, but “a good portion” of them.
Daniels: The Plan Is a Return
Daniels hasn’t played since he suffered a lower-body injury in the fourth quarter of the loss at Texas in Week 2. Earlier in the week, Day said the team thought he’d be back sooner and that he might return against Maryland, though not necessarily as a starter. After the game, Day said Daniels “wasn’t quite ready,” and that returning against Indiana is the plan. How he fits in will depend on his health, and Day said the staff would decide how many snaps he can handle.
Siereveld: The Unexplained Absence
Siereveld’s absence was the biggest surprise. Ohio State learned hours before kickoff that he wouldn’t play. Reports describe it as a non-football issue, and one report cited an illness. Day hasn’t shared details, so I’m not either. It’s why his status is the most uncertain on the list.
Why the Offensive Line Matters Most
With Daniels out, Siereveld had moved to right tackle and Gabe VanSickle slid in at guard. When Siereveld was also out against Maryland, Ohio State shuffled again and put younger linemen like Jake Cook into expanded roles. The right side struggled with pressure, and Sayin was sacked once and fumbled.
That worked against Maryland. Indiana is different. Last year the Hoosiers sacked Sayin five times in the Big Ten title game. Getting even one of Siereveld or Daniels back would help settle things.
The Receivers: A One-Man Passing Game
Without McCuin and Inniss, no Ohio State receiver other than Jeremiah Smith caught more than one pass against Maryland. Chris Henry Jr. started opposite Smith and had one catch for 46 yards, and Brock Boyd had none. Ohio State attempted just 21 passes but still piled up nearly 450 yards. Before the game, McCuin had 17 catches for 245 yards and two touchdowns, and Inniss had 10 catches for 147 yards and a touchdown.
Smith can keep the offense afloat, but a second reliable target would make Indiana’s job harder.
The Defense: Alliegro and Timmons
Alliegro was one of Ohio State’s top tacklers, and TJ Alford took his spot next to Payton Pierce against Maryland. Timmons, a true freshman, has been a quick study at nickel, and he matters against Indiana’s receivers, including slot threat Davion Chandler and outside targets Nick Marsh and Charlie Becker.
Indiana Is Mostly Healthy
Indiana’s reported injury list is short. Tight end Andrew Barker, out since the Rutgers game with no timetable to return, is the only long-term absence among its starters. That makes the Buckeyes’ health even more important.
What to Watch This Week
- Day’s Tuesday press conference. Any specifics on Daniels, Siereveld or Inniss.
- The availability reports. Ohio State’s reports come out during the week. Timmons, for example, was cleared on Wednesday before returning to the list Thursday, so it’s worth checking all three days.
- Game-time decisions. McCuin, Timmons and Siereveld all had uncertain status last week.
My Take
Day’s words sound cautiously optimistic, but “most, not all” leaves real room for a missing piece on a key unit. If Daniels returns and one of Siereveld or Inniss joins him, Ohio State looks close to whole. If not, the Buckeyes lean on young players against one of the best teams in the country.
Who do you think Ohio State needs back most? Tell me in the comments, and subscribe for updates after every injury report.
