Hardships can lead to big wins, and Ryan Day bringing home the natty proves that. But after that, the spotlight and drama haven’t settled a bit; they’ve just cranked up. Now everyone’s watching Julian Sayin, that top QB who’s been waiting and is now aiming for QB1 with Will Howard gone. But hold up, it’s not a lock. You’ve got that 5-star freshman Tavien St. Clair in the mix, though he’s still developing. And don’t forget about the $124k NIL-valued star, who’s been around since 2023, even threw for some yards against Michigan State, and is definitely a contender after redshirting last year. So yeah, just like you see everywhere else in college football—Bama, Athens, you name it—Coach Day’s got a real three-way battle brewing for that QB1 spot: Sayin vs. St. Clair vs….Lincoln Kienholz.

Interestingly, after Saturday’s practice, it seems like the QB1 race has narrowed down to Sayin and Kienholz, and word on the street is that Kienholz might actually be outshining Sayin right now. Ohio State reporters and the students finally got to see the Buckeyes scrimmage in full 11-on-11 this spring at that Student Appreciation Day on Saturday, and Eleven Warriors’ Dan Hope was there to break down what he saw in that QB battle. “If I was just going off today, I would pick Lincoln Kienholz to be Ohio State’s starting quarterback right now. Not saying that’s how it’ll ultimately end up. But there’s kind of been the rumblings that maybe Julian has not had the best spring… I think Lincoln had some of the better throws of the day,” Hope said.

As Lincoln Kienholz confidently assumed control of the wheel, it was clear he wasn’t just going through the motions. There was no hesitation in his approach. Sharing first-team reps with Julian Sayin during Ohio State’s spring scrimmage, Kienholz looked the part—composed, deliberate, and sharp. His decision-making was precise, his mechanics were clean, and he capped off a strong showing with a 45-yard strike to Carnell Tate. That deep ball dropped perfectly in stride and stood out as arguably the highlight of the day.

Sayin, meanwhile, faced a rougher outing. Despite his five-star pedigree and offseason hype, the freshman struggled to find the rhythm. Under pressure, his accuracy dipped, and his toughest moment came on a forced deep shot that was picked off by Jermaine Mathews Jr.—the only interception of the scrimmage.

It wasn’t just local reporters taking note. Even national voices chimed in with concern. ESPN analyst Greg McElroy didn’t mince words when assessing Sayin’s early showing. “A lot of us coming into the spring season were under the assumption that it was going to be Julian Sayin,” McElroy said. “Well, by all accounts, that’s not really the way it’s working out right now.” He continued, “Julian Sayin, by all accounts, did not have a great scrimmage last week. It sounds like he kind of struggled on Saturday.”

That’s a hard pill to swallow for a quarterback who came in as the nation’s top-ranked transfer, with early Heisman whispers. Now, instead of cruising into the QB1 role, Sayin finds himself in the middle of a serious position battle—a development that only complicates Ryan Day’s quarterback dilemma.

Still, it’s not all doom and gloom. For all the scrutiny Sayin’s spring has drawn, there are encouraging signs. He’s added nearly 10 pounds of muscle in the offseason and still flashes the arm talent that made him such a coveted recruit. He’s clearly working, but expectations are sky-high—especially when the guy before you just delivered a national championship.

Is there a silver lining here for Ryan Day and Ohio State?

With Will Howard gone and the 2025 season looming, the Buckeyes are at a pivotal crossroads. There’s no clear successor, and the quarterback room feels more open than expected. Sayin is still leading the competition, but it’s far from a lock. The uneasiness was best summed up by former coach Zach Smith, who questioned what exactly Sayin needed to be in year one.

“He needs to be a B+ quarterback, a B quarterback, or a C+; how good is he actually? Do we need him to be in his rookie campaign?” Smith asked. “Because I don’t think you need him to be some superstar quarterback right now.”

That resonates because Howard himself wasn’t a superstar—just consistently solid. “Probably B+. Yeah, B+ is pretty good, I think, like an overall B+, A minus, in the playoffs. I thought he was balling in the playoffs,” Smith added. The takeaway? Ohio State doesn’t need perfection. They just need someone who can steer the ship with poise.

But the quarterback situation is only part of a larger story. Day isn’t just replacing his QB1; he’s dealing with a complete roster overhaul. On defense, the Buckeyes lost every starter—J.T. Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer, Ty Hamilton, Tyleik Williams, Jordan Hancock, Denzel Burke, and Lathan Ransom are all gone. Offensively, they’ve said goodbye to TreVeyon Henderson, Emeka Egbuka, Gee Scott Jr., Donovan Jackson, and Josh Fryar.

So yes, Julian Sayin has a spotlight on him. But he’s also surrounded by transition, expectations, and uncertainty. Whether he can rise to the challenge remains to be seen. One thing’s for sure—spring ball has only made the race more interesting.