The overall outlook for Ohio State football in Week 1 isn't too interesting. Hosting the Akron Zips and favored by almost 51 points at the start of the week, Ohio State will dominate the far inferior Zips. But our first State of the Buckeyes of the 2024 season does cover the top storyline that fans need to pay attention to.
How will Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day handle the quarterback rotation on Saturday? We know Will Howard will be the team's starter ( we broke the news ), and Devin Brown is his primary backup. However, with players able to play in four games before the playoff without burning their redshirt, will we see either Julian Sayin or Air Noland for the first time?
Howard has decisively secured the starting quarterback position for the Buckeyes. Standing at 6 feet 4 inches and weighing 235 pounds, Howard moved from Kansas State to Ohio State earlier in the year, aiming to boost his prospects for the NFL draft. Playing for Ohio State, renowned for its exceptional scheme and talented team, will only work in his favor.
Coach Day ensured the competition for the quarterback spot, involving five players, was as equitable as possible. Despite strong competition, particularly from backup Brown, who impressed many with his athletic prowess and powerful arm, Howard’s steady performance and seasoned approach clinched his starting role.
Throughout the spring game and practice sessions, Sayin and Noland got a fair share of playtime but were always considered underdogs for even the backup spot. The program values Brown's commitment and hopes to keep him from transferring at least until next year, leading to a tactical distribution of playtime.
At some point on Saturday, maybe in the third quarter, Howard will be on the sideline in favor of someone else. With a full month of cupcake games before things ramp up for the Buckeyes, fans should pay attention to who plays in the second half. Giving Brown one quarter as a nod to his efforts and loyalty makes sense, but this also seems like the right time to give either Sayin or Noland their first crack at playing time.
The balance will be difficult, though. One or both of these two quarterbacks won't stay in Columbus long-term. Tavien St. Clair is coming to town next year and will eventually be the program's star. My guess is Noland will eventually transfer.
This should dictate how Day splits his playing time. Kienholz doesn't have much of a future as a starter for the team, either. But for now, he's an insurance policy in case of the worst-case scenario.
It'd be fascinating to see if Sayin has overtaken Brown or Kienholz for snaps. It's hard to fathom Sayin playing on the road in relief of Howard in the case of injury, but that's a different short-term problem. Week 1 will better give a long-term snapshot of the plan.
Should Kienholz play and not one of the freshmen, then Day might be playing the cleanest political game possible. He'd be rewarding loyalty and not prioritizing appeasing the youngsters. It could also be a sign of an undecided backup job, which he alluded to when he announced Howard as the starter.
However, getting Sayin or Noland on the field right away can be part of a more strategic long-term plan that helps maximize their development. Sayin has earned more praise of the two, and I think is truly the QB3 on this roster, so I think fans are hoping to get a glimpse of the 5-star.
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