Rece Davis says quarterback inexperience is his 'pause' on Ohio State in 2023

Ryan Day enters the 2023 season without a true answer at quarterback. Nobody has officially been named the Ohio State starter, with Kyle McCord and Devin Brown battling throughout the spring. McCord may be considered the favorite but he still enters with little game experience.

That’s what is giving ESPN’s Rece Davis pause about the Buckeyes. He sees a scenario where Ohio State can make the College Football Playoff. Rightfully so as they sport one of the best rosters in the country. Plenty of other positions should be considered strong suits and even excel.

But quarterback inexperience can lead to some losses, especially in a conference such as the Big Ten. Davis is looking to see how the Ohio State starter performs early in the season before gaining confidence.

“You’re not on scholarship to play quarterback at Ohio State if you’re not talented and you’re not capable,” Davis said. “But they’re not proven at that spot yet. That’s my pause for them. But Ohio State is certainly capable of going back to the playoff. I want to see quarterback play from them.”

There will be no opportunity to stumble out of the gates either. Ohio State opens with a Big Ten game on the road, facing Indiana. Maybe not the biggest name on the schedule but still a massive moment for either McCord or Brown.

Two Ohio State games stick out to Rece Davis

Outside of the quarterback situation, Davis decided to look at Ohio State’s schedule. Two games stick out to him, with one being a bit more obvious. So much has been made about the past two Michigan games and the same will be in 2023. Especially with Davis making the Wolverines his preseason No. 1.

“The fact that they go to Ann Arbor against a team that I believe is capable of winning the national championship,” Davis said.

Davis then looked to the nonconference schedule, where a trip to South Bend pops up in Week 4. Marcus Freeman is definitely thinking College Football Playoff himself and if the right dominos could fall, Davis believes it could be a game we discuss through the month of December.

“I think that trip to Notre Dame in September will be a high-profile, marquee game,” Davis said. “Whether it proves be an elite-level, playoff spot-determining game, that remains to be seen based on how good the Irish will be.”