Availability Report: Buckeyes Playing First Game Without Starting Center Seth McLaughlin

COLUMBUS — Ohio State starting center Seth McLaughlin tore his Achilles tendon in practice on Tuesday and is done for the season, so his appearance on the Buckeyes’ availability report is not a surprise, but this will be their first game without him this year.

In his place will be redshirt sophomore Carson Hinzman, who started all 12 regular season games at center a year ago. Hinzman has spent the last three games as the starting left guard for the Buckeyes. Redshirt freshman Austin Siereveld will step in at left guard for Hinzman, which is where he began the season when he started the first two games of the year in place of injured Donovan Jackson.

On the positive side of things, fourth-year junior tight end Will Kacmarek is expected back this week following an arm injury against Oregon last month. He has practiced all week long. His return should help bolster a running game that may take a step back this week thanks to both the injury to McLaughlin and the fact that Indiana has the No. 1 rush defense in the nation.

Fifth-year senior defensive end Mitchell Melton is also expected back this week after missing last week’s game against Northwestern.

Freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has practiced all week and is good to go after having his ankle twisted last Saturday against Northwestern.

The full availability report is below.

QUESTIONABLE

None

OUT

WR Nolan Baudo
OT Zen Michalski
WR Reis Stocksdale
RB TC Caffey (season)
OC Seth McLaughlin (season)
LT Josh Simmons (season)