Joel Klatt sees Cotton Bowl as a 'big opportunity' for Devin Brown

With Kyle McCord already transferred out, Devin Brown is left as Ohio State’s QB1 for the Cotton Bowl. It’ll be the first start of his career and, in the opinion of Joel Klatt, an important outing both for him as well as the Buckeyes’ quarterback spot heading into next season.

Klatt spoke about this chance for Brown during his show on Tuesday. To him, this could give Brown a leg up in this offseason’s quarterback battle. It also says a lot about where Ryan Day may already have him in the position’s pecking order.

“This is a great opportunity for Devin Brown to kind of showcase and state a case, if you will, of why he should be the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback next year,” said Klatt.

“It leads you to believe that Ryan Day is at least comfortable with Devin Brown starting this game, moving into the offseason, and competing with Lincoln Kienholz, the freshman, and Air Noland, the high school recruit that’s about to be there in the spring, in Columbus,” Klatt said. “It could be a decision between those three.”

Brown has appeared in seven games over two seasons at Ohio State with five coming this fall. In total, he completed 12-22 passes for 197 yards, two touchdowns, and a pick. He also rushed for a score on several attempts on the ground this year.

However, as Klatt continued, Brown’s performance versus Missouri is no guarantee of anything. With the transfer portal set up like it is, there’s still very much a scenario where the Buckeyes could go shopping for another quarterback depending on how things progress.

“Now, it may not be because the portal will remain open,” said Klatt. “There’s always going to be that two-week portal opening right after spring football.”

“You never know who might lose a quarterback battle throughout the country, then get in the portal after spring, and, depending on what happens during the course of spring football and the way that those three players play under Ryan Day, you may see a situation where Ohio State brings somebody in after spring football,” Klatt explained. “That could be the case. It happened at Alabama last year if you remember.”

For now, though, this is Brown’s job and one that he must take advantage of in Arlington on Friday. If he does, it’ll go a long way in him securing the job in 2024.

“Devin Brown is going to go out there and he gets the start,” said Klatt. “This is an incredible opportunity for him.”