Urban Meyer weighs in on Ryan Day naming Kyle McCord starting QB
Urban Meyer is weighing in on Ryan Day making it official, Kyle McCord will be Ohio State’s starting quarterback.
Joining Tim May on Urban’s Take for On3, Meyer explained that he believes the group-think had McCord as the starting quarterback already, so much won’t be changing. However, it’s still a nice moment for McCord, while Devin Brown will continue to be involved in other ways.
“I think you probably knew that, even before,” started Meyer. “He just, they were playing some teams that they’re so, you know, Youngstown State and Western Kentucky … it just, it’s stability. And really, it’s nothing more. The team probably already knew it. I think it’s more for the fans, it’s more for the media.
“You settle in on a quarterback. Devin Brown, they’re going to still play him. But Kyle played better last week. Devin’s inconsistent right now. He’s extremely talented. He brings another skill set. They run him a little bit. They ran a quarterback counter. He’s a really good athlete. They think he’s got a great future. He did the right thing. But I think as far as what does that really do, I don’t know if it does much. In the mindset of the team, they probably already knew it.”
McCord has looked solid throughout the first two games of the year, albeit against Indiana and Youngstown State, completing 34 of 53 passes for 497 yards and three touchdowns. That was enough in the staff’s eyes to earn him the title of starter, and Meyer agrees with the decision.
Now, the season truly begins for Ohio State. The Buckeyes have a gauntlet to get through later in 2023, and Kyle McCord must be ready to lead them moving forward.
Ryan Day: Kyle McCord has looked ‘poised’ through two games
Moreover, the level of competition through two games hasn’t jumped off the page for Ohio State, necessarily. Indiana was picked to finish last in the Big Ten East in the preseason media poll, and Youngstown State plays in the FCS Missouri Valley Football Conference.
But the game against Youngstown took place at The Horseshoe after the offense appeared to struggle against Indiana. Day said playing in the stadium is a big deal no matter who the Buckeyes play, but the fact that McCord handled the spotlight well was another key factor in the decision.
“I think regardless of the opponent, when you play at Ohio Stadium and you get your second start, you have to see how people are going to react,” Day said. “I thought he was much more poised in this game than the first one, I think that’s natural.
“So again, we’ll see if we can build on that. But like you said, bigger challenges ahead.”
Ohio State has another non-conference tune-up this week when Western Kentucky comes to town. Next week, though, the Buckeyes head to South Bend to take on Notre Dame. That game is a big one for both teams, and is sure to draw plenty of attention.