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Ohio State QB competition: Ryan Day offers big update, eliminates one from battle

IMG_6598by:Nick Kosko•04/29/25•

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Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Ohio State quarterback competition received a huge update from head coach Ryan Day, as he eliminated one from the race. It’s now down to two players.

Lincoln Kineholz and Julian Sayin are in a “two-horse race,” per Day. Freshman QB Tavien St. Clair, a five-star-plus recruit, has great ability, but not enough football under his belt.

So for now, Kineholz and Sayin, an Alabama transfer, are in direct competition as the calendar gets closer to the summer. Ohio State and Day are looking to find the new starter following the graduation of Will Howard, who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers last weekend.

This isn’t the first time Day mentioned Kineholz and Sayin as the top two candidates for QB1 at Ohio State. Earlier this month, he said they were “neck and neck.”

“I think it’s fair to say that Tavien probably has the longest way to go just because of just the lack of experience,” Day said. “I think it’s easy to see – you guys saw it on Saturday, the talent and his ability to run, his athleticism, the arm. He has all those things. He just needs to play more, he needs to see it more.

“The games just moving really fast for him right now but he’s picking it up, he’s getting it every day. So, I’d say he probably has the farthest way to go and then Lincoln and Julian are, you know, pretty much neck-and-neck right now.”

St. Clair has the most to learn but the oozing potential is there, even if he has to wait until 2026. Day noted how everyone is going through their ups and downs.

“It’s been, you know, three guys getting after it every day, improvement across the board. You know, there’s been good days on all fronts but then there’s been other days not so good,” Day said. “They’re growing. They’re learning. You know, there’s nobody that’s any that much further ahead than the other one right now so they’re going to continue to compete.

“This is a big week for them and Saturday will be a big day for them as well, getting in front of everybody and having an opportunity to compete.”