As the Ohio State football team gears up for the upcoming season, the starting quarterback spot is still up for grabs, with Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz locked in a close race. Despite the pressure, Coach Ryan Day remains optimistic about the competition. "The competition continues," Day explained, highlighting that both players have shown growth amid their good moments. He's looking for someone to step up in the crunch—especially important as the team moves into more situational scenarios in practice over the next few weeks, as he told WBNS.
After a successful season that culminated in a College Football Playoff championship, the stakes are high for the Buckeyes. Sayin and Kienholz, who are both relatively green with a combined 34 pass attempts and 90 college snaps, seek to replace Will Howard, the former Kansas State player who led Ohio State to their sixth national title. Quarterbacks coach Billy Fessler has been emphasizing the need for consistency, particularly in high-pressure situations. "We have to be great on third down and in the red zone. That's where quarterbacks make their money," Fessler noted in an interview with Ottumwa Courier.
Sayin, originally committed to Alabama before transferring last spring, has been praised for his arm strength, while Kienholz's athleticism, honed by playing three sports in high school, has stood out. Although Sayin is perceived as the slight favorite going into the Aug. 30 opener against Texas, he has dismissed the outside hype, focusing instead on developing his "footwork accuracy and mechanics," as he told WBNS. Kienholz, an Iron Buckeye award winner, has made significant strides, specifically in understanding the offense and executing protections.
Even the freshman Tavien St. Clair is getting snaps, though still adjusting to the team's system. With the season opener not too far off, the Buckeyes coaching staff is eager to establish a starting group, with Day likening this critical time to "moving week" in golf—it's all about asserting an identity on the field. Day's comments on the intensifying competition were echoed in his statement to CBS Sports, where he referenced the importance of leadership qualities and command of the offense. Whoever wins the role of starting quarterback won't have the luxury of a slow start, as they'll be immediately tested against a formidable Texas team and Heisman hopeful Arch Manning in what’s expected to be a high-profile showdown.
