Ryan Day confirms Devin Brown is Ohio State backup quarterback despite entering transfer portal

Devin Brown is still the backup quarterback for Ohio State heading into the College Football Playoff, coach Ryan Day confirmed. Brown announced last week that he planned to enter the transfer portal, but apparently is sticking with the Buckeyes until the season’s end.

Ohio State is set to take on Tennessee in a first round matchup on Saturday, and Day was asked whether Julian Sayin would make a push for the backup role behind Will Howard. However, he confirmed that job still belongs to Brown for the time being.

“Julian’s getting a lot of reps in there, but Devin right now is the backup quarterback, but Julian’s right there,” Day said. “He needs to continue to push in that area and you just never know how this thing’s all gonna shake out. There’s a lot of football left, so we’ll need all those guys.”

Brown has played sparingly this season to throw for 108 yards and a touchdown. He has been a backup for all of his career since arriving at Ohio State in 2022 and will have two seasons of eligibility remaining at his next stop.

Devin Brown was a highly rated recruit in the 2022 cycle, coming in as the No. 5 quarterback according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. That in mind, he should have plenty of opportunity to find a starting job elsewhere.

Day doesn’t fault him from moving on from the program given how his career has played out so far, but at the same time appreciates him wanting to finish this year out.

“Give Devin credit,” he said. “He wants to finish this thing out the right way, but he also wants to see what other options are available for his future. It’s not an easy thing for him to do, but I give him credit for wanting to finish this thing out the right way.”

Kickoff for the playoff game between the Buckeyes and Vols is set for 8 p.m. ET on Saturday in Columbus.