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Ryan Day provides an update on the Ohio State quarterback battle ahead of Texas' trip to Columbus

Joe Cookby: Joe Cook07/22/25josephcook89
Ohio State QBs Lincoln Kienholz and Julian Sayin
Ohio State quarterbacks Lincoln Kienholz and Julian Sayin. (© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK)

As both Texas and Ohio State approach their August 30 battle, attention has turned toward the competition in Columbus to replace Will Howard at quarterback.

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The top two candidates are junior Lincoln Kienholz and redshirt freshman Julian Sayin.

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day was asked if he would still categorize the race as “neck and neck” as he did after the Buckeyes’ spring game.

“Same, because it’s hard to make any progress unless you’re actually on the field playing football, but I think both guys have gotten stronger,” Day said earlier Tuesday at Big 10 Media Days in Las Vegas. “It will be interesting to see once we get done with our summer program with (strength and conditioning coach Mickey Marotti) next week, you know, who our “Gold” and who’s “Iron” Buckeyes. That will be big for the leadership, but guys have taken leadership roles.

“They’ve been throwing with the wide receivers. I ask those guys all the time, and they like both of them. We’re going to put them in as many competitive situations as we possibly can to figure out who handles that the best. We’ve got to be on point week one. We can’t be messing around. I know that we’ll need all of those guys in that room this year. When you look at Will, he was a guy who was an older guy, who was experienced, and he was able to sustain the entire season. That’s not always the way it is.

“We have to build depth in that room as well. I’ve got a feeling they’ll all play throughout the season, but it will be a fierce competition to be who the starter is.”

Whoever wins the job will be working under a new offensive coordinator. After Chip Kelly left Ohio State to take the Las Vegas Raiders’ offensive coordinator job, Day promoted longtime assistant Brian Hartline to offensive coordinator and play-caller. Though the offense is Day’s, he won’t be the one calling it on a down-to-down basis.

Kienholz did not record any stats in 2024 during Ohio State’s run to the national title. Sayin was 5-for-12 for 84 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 24 yards.

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Texas and Ohio State will kick off at 11 a.m. Central on August 30. The game will be aired by Fox.

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