How close is Ohio State QB battle? What we've learned about Julian Sayin, Lincoln Kienholz

New York Times

a day ago

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State's quarterback competition remains close through five preseason practices.
Reporters weren't able to view practice on Tuesday, but Buckeyes coach Ryan Day said both second-year quarterback Julian Sayin and third-year quarterback Lincoln Kienholz continue to have good moments — and 'moments when they are growing.'
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Though the names have changed with each offseason quarterback competition, what Day and quarterbacks coach Billy Fessler are looking for has not.
'You have to be consistent,' Fessler said. 'You have to make the routine plays on a consistent basis.'
Now that pads are on and they are looking more comfortable in team drills, the next step will be for the quarterbacks to carry that consistency over to situational drills. Fessler said as practice continues, they'll get into more two-minute drives and red-zone and third-down opportunities for Kienholz and Sayin.
Whether there's a gap building between the two, Day would not say, but he did say he is pleased with their progress and added that he thinks this battle could last until the end of preseason camp.
'We aren't where we need to be,' Day said, 'but if they continue to learn from the mistakes they're making and grow off the plays they are doing well and moving the offense and taking care of the football, then it's going to go right down to the wire.'
Day, Fessler and the quarterbacks met with the media on Tuesday to discuss the early stages of camp with 25 days before Texas visits. Here are a few takeaways from the conversations:
Most analysts around the country believe Sayin is the frontrunner to be Ohio State's quarterback, but the former five-star recruit — who originally signed with Alabama before Nick Saban retired — doesn't look at it like that.
The California native doesn't get on social media much and tries to stay away from outside noise. His focus has been on adding some weight and working on his mechanics and footwork. He's up to 210 pounds from the 203 pounds he was listed at in the spring.
He's also feeling more confident as a leader of the offense.
'It has to be authentic, you can't be somebody that you're not,' Sayin said. 'There's different styles of it, but I'm developing that vocal leadership role.'
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Sayin has been praised for his arm talent dating back to his time at Carlsbad High School, and that's been on display this offseason.
Two things that have stood out to Day, though, have been Sayin's quickness and decision-making.
'He's very smart, he makes good decisions and the ball comes out of his hand accurate,' Day said.
The last time Kienholz got extended playing time for the Buckeyes was in the 2023 Cotton Bowl, when he replaced an injured Devin Brown in the second quarter. Ohio State lost to Missouri 14-3 and Kienholz finished 6-of-17 for 86 yards. Ohio State soon brought in Kansas State transfer Will Howard, who led the Buckeyes to the national title in his one season in Columbus.
The Cotton Bowl was a growing moment for Kienholz, a true freshman at the time. He enters this season in much better physical and mental space. He's up to 215 pounds, stands 6 feet 3 and was named an 'Iron Buckeye,' an honor given to Ohio State players who excelled in the offseason. That was one of his goals.
'It means a lot,' he said. 'It's something everybody should strive for.'
An honor like no other, your 𝐈𝐫𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 ⚒️
🌰 @SiereveldAustin 🌰 @kjacksonjr_ 🌰 @LincolnKienholz 🌰 @payton_pierce26 🌰 @sonnystyles_ 🌰 @carnelltate_ 🌰 @Jermiah_Smith1 🌰 @Jaylenmcclain08 pic.twitter.com/THX0r7M6qY
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 1, 2025
He's getting the ball out quicker, which had to do with some tweaks he made to his throwing mechanics and footwork, and is also dissecting defenses faster.
'Coach Day always tells me to keep the ball up so I don't go through a big wind motion and then just flick and follow,' Kienholz said.
One of the biggest strengths for Kienholz is his athleticism. He was a three-sport athlete at T.F. Riggs High School in South Dakota and his mobility is obvious in practice. Though he's wearing a black jersey, which means he can't be hit during practice, Ohio State is allowing him to extend plays to evaluate that part of his game.
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He's been moved off of his spot at times, especially in rollouts, and he's also made plays by avoiding pressure or hitting a hole up the middle when the coverage is good.
'He's a great athlete and it's got to be something he plays to his strength,' Fessler said. 'Although we can't see it quite as well, there's still definitely a feel for that.'
The five-star Class of 2025 signee had a standout career at Bellefontaine High School, completing 68 percent of his passes with 29 touchdowns and four interceptions as a senior while playing less than an hour from Ohio State's campus.
In high school, his ability to create plays out of nothing was crucial to his team's success. At Ohio State, he's having to adjust his mentality to being able to make the routine reads and throws on time, while still keeping some of his talent for improvisation.
That was one of his main takeaways from the spring, he said.
'Everything was moving fast,' St. Clair said. 'At Bellefontaine, I had good players, but they aren't to the level of what I have here, so I felt obligated to go make the play. It wasn't always the right play, but here you have great players who are going to be in the right spots. They know what they're supposed to do, all you have to do is get the ball to them at the right time.'
Making that mental change isn't as easy as flipping a switch. It's something he's actively working on.
'I've built on it — going into the fall I'm getting a lot better on it,' St. Clair said. 'I still have a ton of growth to make as a quarterback and where I want to be for this room, but it's different. For me it took a little while because I had to get the reps in the spring and the summer.'
Of the three quarterbacks, St. Clair is the one with the least amount of pressure. The freshman is in a position where he's not being thrust into the starting lineup.
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The 6-4, 230-pound St. Clair has all the intangibles to be an impact player in the future, and his arm strength is off the charts. Now he gets a chance to develop the mental side of the game without being thrown into the fire.