Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud will only be used in an “emergency capacity” due to a shoulder injury when the No. 10 Buckeyes host Akron on Saturday, according to coach Ryan Day.
Day said Thursday he hopes to rest Stroud so he will be fully healthy when the program enters Big Ten play.
Stroud has completed 62.4% of his passes for 963 yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions in a 2-1 start to the season. However, he threw for just 185 yards in a 41-20 win over Tulsa on Saturday and did not look quite as explosive as his first two matchups.
Ohio State does not release an official depth chart, but both freshman Kyle McCord and redshirt freshman Jack Miller are expected to get significant snaps against the Zips. Neither McCord nor Miller have thrown a collegiate pass. A key part of resting Stroud is to build depth at backup quarterback.
Stroud’s play has come under scrutiny as Ohio State has struggled to open the year. A loss to Oregon in Week 2 was Day’s first loss as a head coach. The Buckeyes’ No. 10 ranking is its lowest mark since Ohio State ranked No. 10 on Nov. 18, 2018. The program missed the College Football Playoff that season.
Ohio State kicks off against the 1-2 Akron Zips at 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday in Columbus, Ohio, before opening the Big Ten slate against Rutgers on Oct. 2.
