Braxton Miller Injury: OSU Needs Freshman Quarterback Healthy for Illinois Upset

This has not been the year of the Buckeye. Just when the season seemed to be getting back on track, injury hit, leaving the Ohio State team to scramble. There is no end in sight. 

On Saturday, the Buckeyes travel to play Illinois with a banged up squad and a flourishing quarterback that remains questionable. 

An ESPN report posted on Oct. 10 issued that freshman quarterback Braxton Miller is expected to play Saturday against Illinois, and Miller is currently listed as the starting quarterback, according to the team's depth chart.

Make no mistake, the Buckeyes will need the budding star if they are to make a dent against a team with far more momentum at the moment in Illinois. 

Miller was 5-of-8 for 95 yards and a touchdown. He also had 13 carries for more than 100 yards and two scores. At the time of his ankle injury, the Buckeyes enjoyed a 27-6 lead in the third quarter. That is when fate struck down an Ohio State upset. 

Ohio State could give another stirring performance on Saturday. I don't put it past the program to show another passionate push to assert it is far from dead. 

However, a lot of things need to happen. For one, Miller needs to not only start, he needs to be healthy—at least healthy enough to infuse the offense with the versatility he did last weekend. 

The second issue is a big one. The defense needs to show up for the whole game, not just the first half. Against Nebraska, OSU did a fantastic job in containing Taylor Martinez, and then it just gave up. 

The second half showed a completely different defensive presence. The players missed tackles and allowed Martinez to assert himself as he became increasingly comfortable. 

In the end, the Huskers were allowed to control possession with Miller gone and the defense lapsing. If both those things happen again, OSU will be dealt a blowout that would serve to end hopes of turning around the season.