Ohio State guard John Mobley Jr. to miss second straight game

Buckeyes star sidelined with hand injury as team faces No. 24 Wisconsin

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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Ohio State will be without leading scorer John Mobley Jr. for the second consecutive game due to a hand injury he suffered in the team's previous win over USC. Mobley, who is averaging 15.1 points per game, was ruled out indefinitely after the injury and missed the Buckeyes' loss to No. 14 Virginia on Saturday.

Why it matters

Mobley's absence is a significant blow for Ohio State, which is already on the NCAA Tournament bubble and needs to bolster its resume with quality wins. The Buckeyes have limited options on offense without their top scoring threat, making the upcoming matchup against ranked Wisconsin even more challenging.

The details

Mobley suffered the hand injury in the second half of Ohio State's home win over USC on February 15. He was ruled out indefinitely the following day and missed the Buckeyes' 70-66 loss to No. 14 Virginia on February 18. Ohio State is currently one of ESPN's 'first four out' of the NCAA Tournament field, with the Buckeyes' best wins coming against West Virginia, UCLA, and USC.

  • Mobley suffered the hand injury in the second half of Ohio State's home win over USC on February 15.
  • Mobley was ruled out indefinitely on February 16 and missed the Buckeyes' loss to No. 14 Virginia on February 18.
  • Ohio State will host No. 24 Wisconsin on February 21.

The players

John Mobley Jr.

Ohio State's leading scorer, averaging 15.1 points per game, who will miss his second straight game due to a hand injury.

Ohio State Buckeyes

The men's basketball team at Ohio State University, currently on the NCAA Tournament bubble and in need of quality wins to bolster their resume.

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What’s next

Ohio State will need to find a way to replace Mobley's production when they host No. 24 Wisconsin on February 21. The Buckeyes' NCAA Tournament hopes could hinge on how they perform without their star guard.

The takeaway

Mobley's injury is a significant setback for an Ohio State team already struggling to build an NCAA Tournament-worthy resume. The Buckeyes will need to find a way to win without their leading scorer if they hope to secure a spot in the Big Dance.