Ryan Day Gives Update on Ohio State's Quarterback Battle
The 2024 college football season was remarkable for the Ohio State Buckeyes and their head coach, Ryan Day. Leading into the season, expectations were high, but some doubted Day's effectiveness as a head coach due to three consecutive losses to the Buckeyes' archrival, the Michigan Wolverines, and missing the playoffs in the previous two seasons.
Criticism intensified after Ohio State finished the regular season with a record of 10-2, including a fourth straight loss to Michigan, which ended the season on a disappointing note. This was particularly striking given that the Wolverines, who had won the national championship in 2023, finished the season at 8-5.
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Furthermore, the Buckeyes were unable to secure the Big Ten championship for the fourth consecutive season. However, fortunes changed when they qualified for the College Football Playoff, thanks to the expansion to 12 teams.
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterbacks, from left, Lincoln Kienholz, Julian Sayin and Tavien St. Clair
The Buckeyes had an impressive run, winning all four games by double digits to clinch the national championship. However, as they head into this season, Ohio State is facing significant changes, especially with quarterback Will Howard's departure.
Former five-star redshirt freshman Julian Sayin is the frontrunner for the starting position. However, head coach Ryan Day mentioned on the "College GameDay Podcast" that it is too soon to determine a clear winner for the role.
"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," Day said. "So, it's back and forth. This summer is going to be important. I think they're all going to need each other."
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Sayin was ranked as a top-five player in the 2024 recruiting class. He was initially committed to the Alabama Crimson Tide but transferred after head coach Nick Saban retired. Last year, Sayin appeared in four games, throwing for 84 yards and one touchdown, while completing 41.7% of his passes in limited action.
Kienholz is a redshirt sophomore rated as a four-star prospect on most recruiting sites, although ESPN classified him as a three-star in the 2023 class. He has played in just five games during his career, totaling 111 passing yards with a completion rate of 45.5%. He has yet to throw a touchdown.
In the spring game, Sayin started with the second team but also played with the first unit during spring drills. He completed 17-of-24 passes for 175 yards, including a 26-yard touchdown pass. Kienholz took the first snaps and finished the day completing 12-of-18 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns.
Ohio State and Day still have the offseason to decide who will be the starting quarterback. Regardless, they will need to be prepared for the Texas Longhorns in the first game of the season on August 30.
Related: David Pollack Walks Back No. 2 Ranking After Spring Practice
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