OSU's Day Expects Julian Sayin, Lincoln Kienholz QB1 Battle To Go 'Down to the Wire'

All eyes are on the quarterback position as Ohio State prepares to defend its national championship in the 2025 season.

And nobody has separated themselves in the race for the starting job between Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz.

"The competition continues," head coach Ryan Day told reporters Tuesday. "They both have had good moments and moments where they're growing. I will say I've been pleased with the progress. It's going to go right down to the wire."

Day is also pleased with what a competition means for the entire team.

"The positives of having a competition is that you know every day you got to bring it. The guys are always on edge, they're uncomfortable, they're working at it. I think that's healthy for the entire building."

Neither quarterback has much experience at the collegiate level, although it has felt like Sayin would be the next in line for the Buckeyes since he transferred from Alabama to Day's program ahead of the 2024 campaign. 

After all, he was a highly regarded 5-star prospect in the class of 2024, per 247Sports' composite rankings, and caught the attention of the nation's top programs. Sayin was also the one who came in for Will Howard at times last season after the Buckeyes had already put games away.

"I feel like I'm developing in my footwork accuracy and mechanics," Sayin said. "It's just all about building confidence. You make a great play, you start to build that confidence."

Sayin may be the presumed favorite in some corners, but Kienholz is pushing him this offseason.

He was recently named one of the eight "Iron Buckeyes" who were recognized for their leadership during summer workouts and is still in the race to become the starter with less than a month remaining until the high-profile season opener against Texas.

Kienholz hasn't seen game action since the 2023 Cotton Bowl when the Buckeyes had to dip well into their depth chart thanks to a combination of transfers, injuries and bowl game holdouts. He was working with anything but a full roster and struggled while going 6-of-17 for 86 yards in the loss to Missouri.

The talent around him would be much different this time around if he won the job.

Jeremiah Smith is arguably the best player in all of college football and figures to be the go-to receiver, while Carnell Tate has All-Big-Ten potential as the No. 2 option. Tight end Max Klare, along with wide receivers Brandon Inniss and Mylan Graham, provide even more quality options for a team that will be expected to compete for another title.

And the pressure will be on right away for Sayin or Kienholz given the College Football Playoff rematch against the Longhorns that is looming. There will be no time for the starter to warm up with some easy games at the start of the season, which makes the offseason competition all the more important.