Ohio State, Oregon State Face Quarterback Questions

Oregon State’s Braden Atkinson, the nation’s leading passer, was reported out of Saturday’s game at Boise State with a hand injury, though coach JaMarcus Shephard had expressed hope he could play; backup Maalik Murphy would start if Atkinson is unavailable. Ohio State has fallen to 6-3 after consecutive losses, including a 41-28 defeat to Oregon in which it squandered a 14-point lead and surrendered 38 unanswered points. After Julian Sayin’s injury, Urban Meyer questioned the lack of game experience for backup Tavien St. Clair, while coach Ryan Day has continued with Luke Fahey. Jeremiah Smith had a long stretch without a target against Oregon but finished with seven catches for 133 yards and a touchdown, and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith said coverage and breakdowns can disrupt efforts to involve him. Smith also set Ohio State’s career record for 100-yard receiving games, prompting debate about whether he should keep playing amid remaining record opportunities and injury risk.