Ryan Day confirms 'fierce' Ohio State quarterback competition is 'wide open'

After Will Howard led Ohio State to a national championship this past season, the search is now on for his replacement. Three Buckeyes quarterbacks will compete for the starting job, and Ryan Day shared where things stand ahead of spring practice.

Lincoln Kienholz and Julian Sayin will both be in the competition for the starting quarterback job, as will incoming freshman Tavien St. Clair. The Five Star Plus+ prospect is the crown jewel of Ohio State’s recruiting class and will also be in the mix.

Day expects a “fierce” competition and said it will be “wide open” with spring practice on the horizon. He also detailed the message he had for Kienholz and Sayin after the national title game about replacing Howard.

“It’ll be a very fierce competition,” Day told WBNS-TV. “Lincoln and Julian and then, Tavien. We’re excited to see those guys compete. We’ll chart everything and everything will be a competition. I feel like we’re going to need everybody, but I feel like there will be a lot of growth coming out of the spring and an opportunity for these guys to take it and run. It’s one thing when you’re a backup. It’s another thing when you’re actually running it.

“I’ve shared with those guys – especially with Lincoln and Julian, who were there last year – you got a chance to see a guy lead at a high level. This was the conversation leading up to the national championship game. When the national championship’s over, that’s it, Will’s done. His time’s done here. Now, you have to now take it over. You have to walk different, you’ve got to move different. You have to practice different. Everything like that. This is an opportunity now for these guys to take it and run. And Tavien, Tavien spent two weeks here, too [during the CFP], and that was great for our freshmen to see how these guys operate in the last two weeks of the season.”

Who’s in play to be Ohio State’s starting quarterback

Kienholz arrived in Columbus in 2023 and appeared in three games that year – including the bowl game against Missouri after Devin Brown suffered an injury. This past season, he made two appearances, but didn’t throw a pass.

Sayin then joined him in the quarterback room this year after transferring from Alabama as a short term signee following Nick Saban’s retirement. He’s also a former Five Star Plus+ recruit and was the No. 8 overall player from the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Now, Ohio State is also adding St. Clair – the No. 4 overall player and No. 3-ranked quarterback from the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. The trio will now get ready to battle it out for the QB1 job when spring practice gets underway. Ohio State will also have a new offensive coordinator in Brian Hartline, who will also take over play-calling, and the quarterback decision will be a big one as the Buckeyes look to defend their title.