In college football, teams are often only as successful as their quarterbacks allow them to be. This holds true even for a program as talent-rich as Ohio State, where Ryan Day’s roster is filled with high-level players across the board. The Buckeyes recently benefitted from a one-year rental solution with quarterback Will Howard, but that chapter has now closed. A new era is beginning in Columbus, and with it comes a wide-open quarterback battle. Three young and inexperienced signal-callers are lining up to claim the starting job: Julian Sayin, Tavien St. Clair, and Lincoln Kienholz. Although at first glance the competition might seem straightforward, it’s shaping up to be anything but. As spring camp nears, one of these contenders may have already fallen behind.
Denzel Burke says he believes Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin is “that guy” and that he’s going to be “a great player” in Columbus. pic.twitter.com/SnOuBDUPJ4
— Garrick Hodge (@Garrick_Hodge) February 27, 2025
Ryan Day faces an unenviable task in choosing his next starting quarterback. He’s moving from a seasoned veteran in Will Howard to a room full of quarterbacks who, combined, have thrown only 15 passes in college. On the bright side, both Julian Sayin and Tavien St. Clair come with elite pedigrees, each ranked among the top three quarterbacks in their respective recruiting classes. Lincoln Kienholz, a 4-star prospect and the 13th-ranked QB in the class of 2023, adds further intrigue to the race. On paper, Sayin and Kienholz hold a slight edge over St. Clair simply due to their familiarity with the program and its coaching staff. They’ve already spent time learning from Ryan Day, Will Howard, and former offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. That exposure to Ohio State’s system and culture could give them a leg up. As a result, St. Clair, despite his immense talent, enters the spring sitting at the bottom of the depth chart.
However, the perception of true freshmen in college football has evolved. The days when freshmen were too green to contribute right away are largely gone. Today’s top recruits arrive more prepared and confident than ever, ready to play immediately. Ohio State’s own wide receiver, Jeremiah Smith, has already shown how quickly some freshmen can adapt, presenting Ryan Day with a difficult decision. Should he hand St. Clair the keys from day one, or would it be wiser to ease him in while the other two, slightly more experienced quarterbacks, compete for the job? None of these options, though, are proven commodities at the college level.
Adding to the intrigue, former Buckeye cornerback Denzel Burke recently offered his own insight at the NFL Combine, giving a vote of confidence to Julian Sayin. When asked about Ohio State’s looming quarterback competition, Burke didn’t hesitate to praise Sayin, saying, “I think Julian is that guy, to be honest with you.” Realizing the potential controversy of favoring one player over others, Burke quickly softened his stance, adding, “Lincoln’s pretty good too. I’m excited to see how it plays out.” Still, the impression Burke left was clear—he sees Sayin as the likely frontrunner.
Burke’s comments, whether intentional or not, seem to indicate that Sayin has made a strong impression within the team. And it’s not unwarranted praise. Sayin’s skill set—his sharp throwing mechanics, impressive pocket awareness, and general polish—has him widely viewed as the leading contender. Even so, Lincoln Kienholz cannot be counted out. His continued presence on the roster raises questions: if he felt like he had no shot at winning the job, why didn’t he enter the transfer portal? Most 4-star quarterbacks wouldn’t willingly spend a third year stuck on the bench unless they saw a realistic path to playing time.
Experience within the program does carry some weight at Ohio State, even if the program is more focused on performance than seniority. That reality could push Tavien St. Clair into a developmental role this year, essentially making him a redshirt even if he doesn’t officially receive that designation. With two older, highly regarded quarterbacks ahead of him, there’s little reason to rush St. Clair onto the field. However, St. Clair likely isn’t interested in waiting. The competition is just beginning, and the true freshman will have every opportunity to shake things up in spring camp.
Ryan Day has been careful to avoid tipping his hand publicly. In an interview with WBNS 10TV, he addressed the quarterback competition directly, naming all three quarterbacks without showing favoritism. “It’ll be a fierce competition,” Day said. “Lincoln and Julian, and then Tavien—we’re excited to see those guys compete.” Day also reiterated that message on a Columbus radio station, telling listeners that Ohio State’s 2025 starting quarterback is already on the roster, signaling that the Buckeyes aren’t actively pursuing another transfer at the position. “These guys are going to compete their tails off,” Day said.
Still, Day may have unintentionally offered a hint about the current pecking order. During his comments, he stressed that all the quarterbacks were able to watch and learn from Ohio State’s recent national championship run. But only Sayin and Kienholz were actually with the team for that experience. St. Clair, as an incoming freshman, wasn’t on campus for that ride. That detail strongly suggests St. Clair will enter the spring as the third option. But for a player of his talent, there’s no reason to count him out from making noise in camp and disrupting the expected order.
The chess match for Ohio State’s starting quarterback job has already begun, even with spring practices still weeks away. Ryan Day has some difficult choices ahead, but the outcome of this battle could set the tone for the Buckeyes’ entire 2025 season.