According to Ohio State University head coach Ryan Day, the ongoing quarterback battle possesses historical significance. Find out what he means. Position battles in training camp happen every year, regardless of sport.
Two particular scenarios exist in this competition. First, an incumbent needs to fend off an up-and-comer with the confidence and ability to dethrone them. Or, two players, presumably sitting even, have not claimed the starting spot.
Ohio State HC Ryan Day Touts QB Battle, Cites Epic Historical Clash
As the defending champions, you’d expect Ohio State to reload on the fly when talent graduates or transfers. However, for the duration of the summer leading into camp, the program has a two-player competition to replace Will Howard, who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round of this year’s NFL draft.
His vacancy leaves a void requiring someone to step up and take the job. Junior Lincoln Kienholz and sophomore Julian Sayin continue to battle to see who leads the team during their season opener on August 30, when the Ohio State hosts the University of Texas. During his press conference, the head coach used some of his allotted time to draw a parallel, courtesy of WBNS 10 (Columbus).
“I remember kind of what it was with Dwayne and Joe. It was similar, just in terms of the skill sets and the makeups, and so it’s interesting to see those two guys compete with each other. Nothing is exactly the same, but it’s similar in certain ways, but ultimately it comes down to how they perform on the field.
Day alluded to the 2018 quarterback battle between Dwayne Haskins and Joe Burrow for context. That season followed the end of quarterback J.T. Barrett’s career, so Ohio State needed a quarterback.
Serving as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach, Day saw both players excel in camp. Ultimately, Haskins won the job, leading FBS in yards (4,831) and touchdowns (50) during his lone season as Ohio State’s starter. In 2019, Burrow transferred to LSU, winning a national championship. Both quarterbacks thrived in big moments.
You can see the parallels between Sayin and Kienholz because both try to replace a productive signal-caller but lack meaningful experience. For example, Kienholz has not thrown a pass since the 2023 Cotton Bowl, a 14-3 loss to Missouri. Similarly, Sayin’s college passing experience consists of just 12 passing attempts in mop-up duty.
Many still expect Ohio State to contend for its second consecutive title, even in the Big Ten, where schools like Michigan, Penn State, and Oregon all want to be the school to end that dream for Ohio State. Yet, with Texas on the horizon, Day hopes that the remainder of camp will separate the quarterbacks, making the decision easier.
