The reigning national champions are entering the 2025 college football season with a target on their back, but the Ohio State Buckeyes have one major question to answer before they can begin their title defense: who will be the starting quarterback?
After Will Howard declared for the NFL Draft, the expectation was that Julian Sayin, the highly touted five-star transfer from Alabama, would step into the lead role without much resistance. Sayin came to Columbus with sky-high expectations, but early signs out of spring camp suggest the battle under center is far from decided.
Lincoln Kienholz, a lesser-known but returning name in the Buckeyes’ quarterback room, has turned what was presumed to be Sayin’s job into an open competition. During Ohio State’s Student Appreciation Day practice, Kienholz put on a show while Sayin struggled. Reports out of camp say Sayin’s accuracy has dipped under pressure, and his decision-making has raised some concerns. The most glaring example came during the scrimmage, where Sayin threw the lone interception of the day, a deep shot into double coverage picked off by Jermaine Mathews Jr.
On the flip side, Kienholz looked poised and in control. He read defenses with maturity, displayed clean mechanics, and looked especially sharp on a 45-yard touchdown pass to rising star Carnell Tate. It wasn’t just one play, either—Kienholz consistently made smart, efficient throws and never looked rattled when facing pressure.
The quarterback battle comes at a time when the Buckeyes’ offense is undergoing a massive transformation. TreVeyon Henderson, Emeka Egbuka, Gee Scott Jr., Donovan Jackson, and Josh Fryar are all gone. While elite talents like Jeremiah Smith, Brandon Inniss, and Carnell Tate return to anchor the offense, it’s clear the quarterback will need to be a true field general to keep the Buckeyes ahead of the pack.
Sayin may have the recruiting stars, but in practice, it’s Kienholz who has looked more like the leader of a national championship-caliber offense. With the season just months away, this is no longer Julian Sayin’s job to lose—it’s Lincoln Kienholz’s job to win.
