The Ohio State Buckeyes are standing at a crossroads, staring down a quarterback dilemma that could reshape their future. Fresh off their electrifying national championship victory over Notre Dame, the Buckeyes are basking in glory—but their QB1, Will Howard, has moved on, leaving behind a legacy and a glaring void. Now, as the search for his successor heats up, rumors of a potential transfer exodus swirl around the program, with head coach Ryan Day carefully weighing his options.
The Will Howard Effect: A Quarterback Who Did What Others Couldn’t
Will Howard’s arrival at Ohio State was met with skepticism. He wasn’t the flashiest name, nor did he command the same level of hype as some of his predecessors. Yet, when the stakes were highest, he delivered what so many before him could not—a national title. Against Notre Dame, Howard was in his element, orchestrating the offense with precision, completing 17 of 21 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns. He connected with six different receivers, avoided costly mistakes, and even used his legs to pick up key first downs.
For years, the Buckeyes had been blessed with an assembly line of elite quarterbacks—Troy Smith, Terrelle Pryor, Braxton Miller, Dwayne Haskins, Justin Fields, and C.J. Stroud—yet none had secured the ultimate prize. Howard, in just one season, did what they couldn’t. Imagine if he had been in Columbus longer. His growth from a Kansas State transfer into a championship-winning quarterback was nothing short of remarkable. But with his departure, Ohio State must now find a new leader, and that’s where things get complicated.
Three Quarterbacks, One Job—But Will All Three Stay?
As of now, the battle for Ohio State’s next starting quarterback appears to be a three-horse race between Julian Sayin, Lincoln Kienholz, and Tavien St. Clair. But will all three remain in Columbus when the dust settles? That’s the million-dollar question.
Sayin, a former Alabama commit who transferred to Ohio State, is widely considered the frontrunner. Having already spent a year in the Buckeyes’ system, he has familiarity on his side. His natural talent and ability to make quick reads give him an edge, and analysts have pegged him as the heir apparent to Howard.
That leaves Kienholz and St. Clair in a precarious position. Lincoln Kienholz, now entering his third season at OSU, has barely seen the field. In his limited appearances as a freshman, he completed just 45.5% of his passes for 111 yards. And despite his impressive high school pedigree—where he was named USA Today’s National Athlete of the Year—he has been buried on the depth chart, waiting for an opportunity that may never come.
Fox Sports analyst RJ Young didn’t mince words when addressing Kienholz’s situation, suggesting that a transfer might be his best path forward.
“Does he want to back up someone else, or does he want to stick it out? Honestly, he could probably go torch defenses if he just went to Tulane, Tulsa, or Boise State,” Young speculated. “There are places for him to go where he can be the guy. I don’t know if Ohio State is going to be that place.”
It’s a fair point. Kienholz is a talented quarterback, but if Sayin is indeed the favorite, will he be content waiting in the wings yet again? For someone with his skill set, sitting on the bench isn’t an attractive option.
Ryan Day’s Cryptic Response: What’s Next for Ohio State’s QB Room?
When asked about the ongoing quarterback battle, Ryan Day didn’t provide a definitive answer. Instead, he left the door wide open for speculation.
“They’re young. We need them to be tough. We need them to be leaders. We have a leader. Long way to go on it. Don’t have any evaluation on it now. Gonna be a big spring for those guys.”
Translation? The battle is still wide open—at least publicly. But Day’s comments also hint at a deeper truth: if none of these quarterbacks prove themselves in spring practice, Ohio State could explore the transfer portal again.
When pressed on whether OSU would be looking outside its current roster for quarterback reinforcements, Day remained coy.
“We have some good quarterbacks in the system,” he said. “I shared with all of them that this was the week leading up to the national championship game—that they had an opportunity to watch and learn. And so you have to utilize that, because that’s exactly what we’re looking for in a leader here at quarterback.”
That’s hardly a firm commitment to any of the current candidates. It leaves open the possibility that, if none of them separate from the pack, Ohio State could once again dip into the transfer market.
The Inevitable Fallout: Who Stays, Who Goes?
With Julian Sayin seemingly in pole position, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where all three quarterbacks remain at OSU by the time the 2025 season kicks off. Someone will be the odd man out, and the transfer portal is always a tempting escape hatch.
Kienholz, in particular, seems like the most likely candidate to leave. He’s entering his third season with minimal playing time and may not want to spend another year as a backup. If Sayin wins the job, St. Clair—being a highly-touted 2025 prospect—might be willing to redshirt and develop. But Kienholz? The clock is ticking on his career.
One thing is certain: the quarterback battle in Columbus will be one of the most intriguing storylines of the offseason. And whether it’s through competition, the transfer portal, or a surprise breakout, Ohio State must find its next leader. Because in the world of college football, especially in a program as storied as OSU, the expectations never waver. It’s championship or bust.
