The issue that has led to Ohio State defensive end Chase Young being suspended indefinitely dates to December 2018, a person with direct knowledge of the matter told The Athletic, when Young borrowed money from a family friend to fly his girlfriend to California to attend the Rose Bowl. Young paid that money back in April, the person said.

Another person said the family friend from whom Young borrowed the money is not an agent or a booster. That would be significant in the NCAA’s eyes as it begins to sort all of this out.

Ohio State said in a statement Friday morning that Young will miss Saturday’s home game vs. Maryland and is out indefinitely while it investigates “a possible NCAA issue from 2018.” His absence is significant for the Buckeyes regardless of opponent because of his dominant play. He has an FBS-best 13.5 sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss (fourth nationally) and five forced fumbles (second nationally).

Young later released the...