A wealth of options, a tough decision. That’s what Ohio State’s QB room looks like right now. And Ryan Day is staring at this dilemma that could make or break their 2025 season. One FOX analyst isn’t mincing words — he sees a problem and he’s sounding the alarm. The Buckeyes may have a QB room loaded with talent but void of proven experience. And with a high stakes season opener against Texas looming, the pressure is on to make the right call. Could it even mean one of them has to hit the transfer portal?
RJ Young is concerned with OSU’s QB situation in a new episode on The Number One College Football Show on March 7. It’s obvious, that room is stacked. Former 5-star Julian Sayin, once an Alabama commit, stayed the course in Columbus and has shown flashes of brilliance. True freshman Tavien St. Clair has all the tools to develop into something special. And then, there’s Lincoln Kienholz, a longtime Buckeye waiting for his chance to start under center. But as Young reminded, “None of those guys have started football games against Ohio State or anywhere else for that matter.” Still, the general speculation is that Julian Sayin will get the starting nod. Is that a good plan?
“He looked like the number two in the room for anybody that was talking behind Will Howard,” Young said of Julian Sayin. “But there was quite a big gap between Will Howard and number two.” The potential QB1 cemented his hype with his high school success. He was the Elite 11 MVP and completed his senior season with an impressive 74.5% completion rate for 2,347 yards and 24 scores. But the problem is that he hasn’t played a single snap at collegiate level.
The same goes for Tavien St. Clair. While he has potential, he isn’t expected to push for the job and was snubbed in the starter conversation by Denzel Burke at the NFL combine. But surprises aren’t out of question in Columbus. OSU’s offense is already undergoing a transformation. Ryan Day has handed the play-calling duties to Brian Hartline, elevated TE coach Keenan Bailey as the co-OC, and brought in new O-line coach Tyler Bowen. The staff is different, the offense is evolving, but at the end of the day, the starter decision will come down to who has the best chemistry with their star receiver Jeremiah Smith.
The transfer portal dilemma — Lincoln Kienholz
While Ohio State sorts out its depth chart, there’s one big question. Sticking around since 2023, what does Lincoln Kienholz do if he’s not going to be the starter? RJ Young laid out his speculation — “Lincoln Kienholz could be entering the transfer portal if he doesn’t feel like he’s going to get the shot to be the starter come August.” It’s not to say he isn’t a talented guy. Young envisions him lighting it up at a place like Tulane, Tulsa, or even Boise State. But if he chooses to remain with the Buckeyes, he’ll have to prove he can pick apart one of the nastiest secondaries in the country.
Caleb Downs, a freak athlete in the defensive backfield, will test these QBs in daily practice. Can these contenders make the throws under pressure? Can they develop chemistry with Smith? This test is going to be about finding the guy who can take Ohio State toe-to-toe with Texas on August 31. The Longhorns have their own weapon in Arch Manning. If the Buckeyes’ QB1 isn’t ready, they could be staring down a 0-1 start.
The challenges don’t stop there. The Big Ten is more brutal than ever, with Oregon, Penn State, and Michigan lurking. Ryan Day can’t afford to enter the upcoming season unsure of what they have at QB.
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