Ohio State: No Expectation for Length of Potential Chase Young Suspension

Ohio State defensive end Chase Young missed Saturday's game due to an NCAA eligibility issue.

Ohio State said it doesn't have an expectation for the number of games star defensive end Chase Young could potentially be suspended.

ESPN reported Saturday morning that sources told analyst Kirk Herbstreit that the Buckeyes anticipate Young will receive a four-game ban. However, sports information director Jerry Emig refuted the report and said Ohio State does not have an idea of the number of games Young will miss. Emig added the process is ongoing.

Coach Ryan Day voiced his support for Young before Ohio State's 73–14 win over Maryland on Saturday.

"He knows we have his back," Day said, per WBNS. "We're supporting him and he's supporting us and we're going to get through it together."

Ohio State announced on Friday that Young would miss its contest against Maryland due to an NCAA eligibility issue concerning a loan he borrowed from a family friend in 2017. According to ESPN, he used the money to help fly his girlfriend to the Rose Bowl. 

Young posted on Twitter on Friday that he "made a mistake" by accepting the loan but he paid it back in full last summer. He added he's "working with the University and NCAA to get back on the field as soon as possible." 

Young, a junior pass-rusher, has 13 1/2 sacks in eight games for the Buckeyes this season, leading a defense that has allowed the fewest points per game (7.9) of any team in the nation. His dominance has launched him into the Heisman Trophy conversation, a rarity for a defensive player. He is projected to be a top pick in the 2020 NFL draft if he chooses to declare early.

The Buckeyes play a floundering Rutgers team next week before closing out the regular season with games at home against Penn State and vs. Michigan on the road.

Ohio State entered Saturday in the top spot in the season's first College Football Playoff rankings and third in the AP poll.