The quarterback position is the heartbeat of any championship team, and at Ohio State, the pulse is racing faster than ever. After a season of success with Will Howard steering the Buckeye ship as a one-year wonder, Ryan Day now faces a daunting task: deciding which unproven young gun will step into the spotlight next. On the surface, it seemed like Julian Sayin was the clear heir to the throne, but in true Buckeye fashion, nothing is ever that simple.
With three quarterbacks—each with unique strengths and compelling backstories—lurking in the shadows, this QB battle is about to ignite Columbus. Will the 5-star phenom Sayin claim what many assumed was his? Or will Tavien St. Clair, the fresh-faced freshman with unlimited upside, crash the party? And let’s not forget the wildcard, Lincoln Kienholz, the overlooked 4-star with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove. As the dust settles from Ryan Day’s latest coaching shake-up, this QB showdown is shaping up to be the most unpredictable saga in years.
From Veteran Leadership to a QB Free-for-All
After riding the steady hand of senior Will Howard to a stellar season, Ryan Day now finds himself staring down the barrel of a quarterback room full of inexperience. Gone are the days of leaning on a seasoned field general. In their place? A trio of quarterbacks with a combined total of just 15 career completions. That’s right—fifteen. It’s enough to make even the most confident coach sweat.
But don’t let the numbers fool you. Julian Sayin and Tavien St. Clair aren’t just any quarterbacks. They’re 5-star recruits, ranked in the top three nationally in their respective classes. Meanwhile, Lincoln Kienholz may not have the same star-studded rating, but he’s a 4-star competitor who’s 13th in the nation in the class of ‘23. Sayin and Kienholz have the edge in experience, having been around the Buckeye program longer and soaking up knowledge from Day, Howard, and the now-departed Chip Kelly. But will that be enough?
The Columbus Consensus: Is Sayin Really the Guy?
Heading into spring, the buzz around Columbus has Julian Sayin leading the charge. After all, he was the QB2 last season, already leapfrogging Kienholz in the pecking order. But not everyone is sold on Sayin’s inevitable rise to QB1. Bill Kurelic, an Ohio State insider, recently dropped a bombshell that’s got Buckeye Nation questioning everything.
Kurelic pointed to a conversation he had with Lincoln Kienholz during his recruitment days. “Lincoln Kienholz wouldn’t have stayed around if he didn’t think he could win this battle,” Kurelic said on the Bucknuts 247Sports YouTube channel. “I remember talking to him in Texas when he was getting ready for the All-American Bowl…he’s a very confident young man. Back then, he believed he could come to Ohio State and be the guy, and I don’t think that mindset has changed.”
It’s a valid point. In today’s transfer portal era, quarterbacks don’t hang around on the bench unless they see a real shot at playing time. For Kienholz to stick it out for a third year, despite being buried behind Sayin last season, suggests he knows something the rest of us don’t.
I don’t know who needs to hear this, but Tavien St. Clair is not starting vs Texas.
He’s ultra talented with a very bright future ahead of him, but he isn’t started week 1 as a true freshman.
Sayin or Kienholz will be QB1. My money is on Sayin. pic.twitter.com/jnydnkFEa5
— Mr. Ohio (@MrOH1O) January 27, 2025
The Coaching Carousel: A New Era Under Ryan Day
But this QB drama isn’t happening in a vacuum. The Buckeyes’ coaching staff is going through a major facelift, and that’s bound to shake up the quarterback room. In a move that sent shockwaves through the program, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles abruptly left for conference rival Penn State—a betrayal that hit hard, especially so soon after the National Championship high. As if that wasn’t enough, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly bolted for the NFL’s Raiders, leaving Buckeye fans in a mix of disbelief and cautious optimism.
However, Ryan Day wasted no time steadying the ship. Rather than looking outside, he doubled down on continuity by promoting Brian Hartline to full-time offensive coordinator. Known for his wizardry with wide receivers, Hartline now takes over play-calling duties, a move that has been met with overwhelming support. On3’s Andy Staples even ranked this as the third most impactful coordinator hire of the offseason, trailing only Ryan Grubb at Alabama and—ironically—Jim Knowles at Penn State.
Julian Sayin’s Chemistry and the Hartline Factor
The promotion of Hartline could play directly into Julian Sayin’s hands. As someone who entered the program alongside star receiver Jeremiah Smith, Sayin has already built a rapport with the guy who could be Ohio State’s next great pass-catcher. Hartline’s offense thrives on pushing the ball
