Ryan Day silenced the doubters in 2024 with a storybook finish. After a gut-wrenching loss to Michigan, fans called for his job. But Day flipped the script and led OSU to a stunning national title run, knocking off Vols, Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame. Now, he’s earning the respect he deserves. USA Today’s Paul Myerberg ranks him the No. 1 coach in the B1G for 2025. “While he has come under fire for the Buckeyes losing four in a row against Michigan, Day enters his seventh year as the full-time coach with an overall record of 70-10 and a 46-5 mark in Big Ten play,” wrote Myerberg. But what has been Ryan Day’s most defining move so far?
Keeping Jeremiah Smith on their roster is a massive win for Ohio State. Now, he’s ready to take over college football in 2025. The star wideout was already a nightmare for defenses last season. Just ask Texas—they double-teamed him the entire CFP clash and still couldn’t slow him down. He’s electric, explosive, and a true Heisman contender. However, the only question now is, who’s going to be the one feeding him the ball this fall?
Look, Ohio State may be stacked with talent, but they’re not escaping the microscope. Questions are swirling in Columbus, and that’s exactly why national analyst Josh Pate kept the Buckeyes outside his top five in his post-spring power rankings. On the May 12th episode of Late Kick with Josh Pate, he broke it down clearly, stating, “Tons of questions here, but the raw talent and makeup of the personnel is such that even if there’s a question mark at virtually every position, you can’t go much lower than this. And this is kind of post-spring, you know. When you get into fall camp and you start getting more definitive reports on these guys, it’s likely that even in a rankings format, you kind of start to elevate Ohio State.”
However, Josh Pate isn’t sugarcoating Ohio State’s situation. He laid it out straight—this team won’t be anywhere close to complete when they open the season against Texas. “They may not—look, there’s no maybe—they won’t be a finished product or anywhere close to that in week one,” said Pate. Now, with a new quarterback, fresh faces at OC and DC, and waves of talent lost to the NFL, the questions are stacking up. Still, their recruiting depth keeps them in the conversation. And that’s why Pate slots the Buckeyes in at No. 8—for now.
Although Josh Pate knew eyebrows would raise, he stood firm on his process. “Now, this is where we’re going to get accused of, trying to be sensationalists. I’m really not,” he said. Moreover, Pate made it clear—he’s not just ranking based on last year’s finish. “I do not rank you merely on where you left off last year. I think about what I expect you to be this year at the start of the season, and that’s where I rank you.” So, for Pate, it’s all about projection, not reputation.
We know the Buckeyes are set to defend their national title in 2025, but they will face plenty of hurdles. With stars like JT Tuimoloau, TreVeyon Henderson, and Emeka Egbuka gone to the NFL, roster changes loom large. On top of that, the coaching staff has also seen a shake-up, with Chip Kelly and Jim Knowles moving on. Now, the QB position is in flux, with Bama transfer Julian Sayin stepping in to lead, adding both excitement and uncertainty. Moreover, their season kicks off with a tough showdown against Texas and ends with a high-stakes battle against Michigan. So, given that all of Pate’s predictions make sense.
But even with these challenges, Ohio State remains a top B1G contender thanks to its deep talent pool. “So, just think about this for a second,” Pate said. Adding, “You’re a high-achieving program, but last year’s record didn’t reflect it. There’s almost no reason to keep doing what you’ve always done. Changes are inevitable. Now, those changes might not work out, but you can bet there will be a lot of them.” And when applied to Ohio State, Pate’s analysis makes sense. With a roster overhaul and coaching shake-ups, the Buckeyes are bound for change, even if it’s uncertain how it will all play out.
And while Ohio State’s CFP prospects seem clear with Ryan Day and Jeremiah Smith leading the charge, the OSU head coach has brought fans back to reality with an update on the team’s ongoing QB battle.
Ryan Day’s verdict on QB room
After a disappointing 10-2 regular season, including a fourth straight loss to Michigan, OSU’s season ended with mixed emotions. Despite missing out on the B1G title, the Buckeyes still managed to secure a playoff spot and stormed through the CFP to claim the national title. Now, heading into 2025, a major question looms—who will lead the offense at QB? Former 5-star Julian Sayin is the frontrunner, but Ryan Day made it clear that the QB competition is far from settled. The battle for the starting job will continue to unfold as the season approaches.
The Buckeyes’ QB battle is heating up in Columbus, and Ryan Day isn’t ready to name a starter just yet. Lincoln Kienholz came into the spring slightly ahead, but Julian Sayin made a strong statement in the spring game. “I feel like Lincoln (Kienholz) was ahead of Julian heading into the spring game, and I thought Julian had a better spring game than Lincoln,” said Day. Adding, “So, it’s back and forth. This summer is going to be important. I think they’re all going to need each other.” Now, with fall camp approaching, this QB race will continue.
While OSU’s quarterback race is officially on, the spotlight is burning bright. Julian Sayin, a former top-five recruit, flashed promise this spring. He threw for 175 yards and a score, showing poise and precision. Meanwhile, Lincoln Kienholz, the redshirt sophomore, fired back with two touchdowns of his own on 158 yards. Although Sayin started with the second unit, but made noise with the ones, while Kienholz took the first snaps. Now, with fall camp looming, the battle for QB1 in Columbus is just getting started.
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