The 2024 college football season was a notable one for the Ohio State Buckeyes and head coach Ryan Day. Entering the year, expectations were high, but skepticism surrounded Day due to three straight defeats to rival Michigan and back-to-back seasons without a playoff appearance.
That criticism grew louder when Ohio State wrapped up the regular season with a 10-2 record, including a fourth consecutive loss to Michigan—a team that, despite winning the 2023 national title, ended this season just 8-5.
Additionally, the Buckeyes missed out on the Big Ten title for the fourth year in a row. However, their luck shifted as they earned a spot in the College Football Playoff, benefiting from its expansion to a 12-team format.
The Buckeyes capped off an impressive postseason by winning all four games decisively, each by double digits, to secure the national championship. However, as they prepare for the upcoming season, Ohio State is undergoing major transitions—most notably the departure of quarterback Will Howard.
Julian Sayin, a redshirt freshman and former five-star recruit, currently leads the competition for the starting QB job. Still, head coach Ryan Day noted on the College GameDay Podcast that it’s too early to name a definitive starter.
“I feel like Lincoln (Kienholz) was ahead of Julian heading into the spring game, and I thought Julian had a better spring game than Lincoln,” Day said. “So, it’s back and forth. This summer is going to be important. I think they’re all going to need each other.”
Julian Sayin, a top-five recruit in the 2024 class, originally committed to Alabama before transferring to Ohio State following Nick Saban’s retirement. In limited action last season, he appeared in four games, completing 41.7% of his passes for 84 yards and one touchdown.
Competing with him is redshirt sophomore Lincoln Kienholz, a four-star prospect according to most recruiting services—though ESPN rated him as a three-star in the 2023 cycle. Kienholz has seen action in five career games, throwing for 111 yards with a 45.5% completion rate and no touchdowns.
During Ohio State’s spring game, Sayin began with the second team but also got reps with the starters, finishing 17-of-24 for 175 yards and a 26-yard touchdown. Kienholz took the initial first-team snaps and completed 12-of-18 passes for 158 yards and two scores.
With the season opener against Texas looming on August 30, head coach Ryan Day still has the offseason to determine who will lead the Buckeyes under center.
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