Half of Big Ten teams may use backup quarterbacks this weekend

Nine of the 18 teams in the Big Ten Conference may send their backup quarterbacks under center for games this weekend. The uncertainty stems from a combination of injuries and roster changes that have thinned the depth at the position across the league.

The situation is most pressing for second-ranked Ohio State and No. 7 UCLA, both of which are managing active injuries to their primary starters. Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said the program is working to determine the best option for Saturday's prime-time game at Southern California.

The decision at Ohio State centers on Luke Fahey and Tavien St. Clair. Starter Julian Sayin hurt his throwing arm in the fourth quarter of the Buckeyes' 19-15 win over Indiana on Oct. 17. Day said Fahey had the edge in practice over the past two weeks, but the staff needs more time to evaluate both players before making a final call.

Fahey is a freshman who has played in three games this season. He is 9 of 13 for 203 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. St. Clair is a sophomore who has started two games, completing 5 of 7 passes for 52 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Sayin is sidelined indefinitely, though Day has not ruled him out for the remainder of the season.

UCLA is expected to start senior Ty Dieffenbach after Nico Iamaleava suffered a knee injury at Oregon on Oct. 10. Coach Bob Chesney described Dieffenbach as resolved and confident. The senior has a 61.4% completion rate with two touchdowns and one interception. He benefits from a running game that averages a conference-high 233 yards per game, with Wayne Knight and Anthony Woods each averaging at least 65 yards per game. The Bruins host Nevada on Saturday and will play Michigan on Nov. 21 before hosting USC the following week.

Oregon's season has faltered since starter Dante Moore suffered a season-ending concussion at USC on Sept. 26. The Ducks have scored no more than 17 points in their last three games. Nebraska transfer Dylan Raiola threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns against the Trojans but has lost both of his starts. Brock Thomas started against Nebraska but was pulled after completing fewer than half his passes. Coach Dan Lanning fired offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer on Sunday after the team dropped two of its last three games. New play caller Jay Johnson faces a test against No. 20 Northwestern on Saturday.

Other teams face their own personnel puzzles. Illinois' Michael Clayton II remains the only true freshman quarterback to start and win a game in the conference, having passed for 88 yards and a touchdown in a 21-10 win over Oregon last week. Katin Houser is expected to miss three to five weeks after surgery on his throwing hand.

Washington's Desmond Williams may return after missing the Oct. 16 game at Purdue. Coach Jed Fisch has not announced whether Williams or Elijah Brown will start. Brown passed for a career-high 302 yards against the Boilermakers. Michigan State is on a bye week after using third-stringer Kayd Coffman at UCLA. Coach Pat Fitzgerald hopes to have Alessio Milivojevic or Cam Fancher back for the Nov. 7 game at Michigan.

Iowa has listed Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski as potential starters for Saturday's game at No. 25 Wisconsin. Both struggled in a loss at Minnesota last week. Hecklinski was 9 of 16 for 62 yards and an interception, while Brown played the second half for 11 of 21 for 136 yards.

Michigan and Rutgers meet on Saturday, with neither coach confirming their starter. Michigan's offense is ranked No. 127 in the Football Bowl Subdivision in passing. Coach Kyle Whittingham said the decision between Bryce Underwood and Tommy Carr will be made in the next couple of days. Rutgers may give AJ Surace a second start after Dylan Lonergan was injured at Northwestern last week.