Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Etienne Sabino will miss this week's Big Ten Conference showdown with the Indiana Hoosiers, multiple media outlets are reporting. Sabino, a fifth-year senior, suffered a lower-leg injury in the first half of Saturday's 63-38 victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

After the game, Sabino was seen wearing a protective walking boot. It's still unclear whether the injury will keep him out for more than just a week.

The loss of Sabino may not factor much against the 2-3 Hoosiers, but may hamper Ohio State the following week against the Purdue Boilermakers, Oct. 27, as the Buckeyes lean heavily on the senior's attention to detail and leadership skills.

"It’s hard for me to say he’s not my favorite player on this team," head coach Urban Meyer said earlier last week. "I have conversations with him like I would a coach. I listen to him. I usually don’t listen a lot, and then I listen to him."

In his absence, the Buckeyes turned to true freshman Joshua Perry, who was the first commitment in Ohio State's 2012 recruiting class.

Saturday's game will begin at 8 p.m. ET and will be broadcasted on the Big Ten Network.