“CLEMSON x OHIO STATE x QB SUMMIT.” What is that one big question that is haunting every Ohio State fan after their 2024 conquest? Well, “Who will be the starting quarterback for the 2025 run?” Ryan Day proved one thing last season—when the Buckeyes are backed into a corner, they don’t fold, they throw haymakers. But what happens when the biggest threat isn’t wearing blue on the other side of the field… but standing inside your own QB room? Enter Julian Sayin—the quiet storm. His rise to becoming the centerpiece of Day’s ‘RELOAD’ script feels straight out of a Netflix biopic. A few weeks at Bama, a portal jump to Columbus, and suddenly, he’s taking snaps in a National Championship run like it was meant to be. Ask any Buckeye fan, and they’ll tell you—Julian Sayin has to be on that field.

The kid’s locked in and ready to roll. But here’s the kicker: the real headache isn’t the starter. It’s the backup. Yeah, that guy. QB Summit took to their IG share Lincoln Kienholz, joining Cade Klubnik from Clemson to showcase their haymakers in front of QB expert Jordan Palmer. This changes a lot of things. Now we understand what you are going to say—”But ES, hasn’t Day already locked in Sayin as his starter?” Yes, and no. Yes—on a technical basis. See, Sayin is extremely skilled, and there is zero doubt about it. Take his high school career alone: 7,824 yards passing and 85 freaking touchdowns. The kid is a monster, and he is pulling all of that despite being on the short end of the lease—aka, his height.

Standing at just 6’1″, Julian Sayin might be the shortest quarterback Ryan Day has ever coached—but don’t let that fool you. What some call a “height problem,” Sayin has turned into his secret weapon. He zips through reads, finds tight windows, and threads throws with sniper-like precision. Just going off the spring game, it’s clear—he’s not just ready to take Will Howard’s mantle… he might just lead the Bucks back to another natty….

…But then comes the Kienholz drama. He’s been grinding in the Buckeyes’ system since 2022, patiently waiting his turn. While Sayin might be the “best pure thrower” in the room, Lincoln Kienholz is the “dual-threat monster” you can’t ignore. 4,857 yards as a senior at Riggs High—but that ain’t even the best part. Out of the 4k+ yards, 1,435 were on rushing and drove his team to a state championship.

The guy runs the ball like his scholarship’s on the line every snap, and honestly, that explosiveness might just tilt the scales in his favor for QB1.

Even if Day has already started building his arsenal around Sayin, with WR commit Kayden Dixon-Wyatt announcing, “I know where home is”—you best believe, OSU HC’s plan to build another pass-heavy comp for the 2025 war could go right out the window.

Remember: Howard was extremely close to losing his QB1 job to Devin Brown. The gap between the skill levels of the 2 QBs only increased during the May, June, and July camp. Best believe the same thing could happen with the Sayin x Kienholz debate. Whoever manages to copy Will Howard’s homework the best and ace the ultimate test in August? That’s your new QB1 in Columbus.

And that decision can’t come late—because right out of the gates, the Buckeyes are staring down a Top-10 clash. Day needs his guy ready from snap one.

Texas Longhorns’ revenge

“And then I sit down with each player and say, ‘Here’s where you’re at, okay, here’s where you can improve.’ Even a guy who’s got straight A’s, he’s all-conference. He’s this, he’s that. Well, how are we going to get better? How are we going to improve?” Out of everything the electric 2024 college football season gave us, Steve Sarkisian’s rise and the Longhorns’ sudden takeover might just top the list… right?

Sark stepped onto the field with a stacked dual-QB setup and steamrolled just about everyone—or at least, that’s the narrative folks love to push. But take the “glazing” off, and the reality is a bit different. Sark never fully proved his mettle. Ewers, while solid when healthy, still missed some key throws. The one true bright spot? Well, Arch Manning. And now, with Arch officially starting as the Horns’ QB1 this season, both fans and analysts finally have a reason to be genuinely optimistic.

But then you kick off the season against the Buckeyes. And as much as that’s a problem for Ryan Day, it’s just a bigger challenge for Steve Sarkisian. While one has to hold on to their “National Champs” hat, the other has to prove their worth.

With the 2025 season knocking, both Day and Sark had ample time to rebuild. And whoever did the better job—probably ends up getting the Game 1 W…. A top 10 game to start the season—d-mn it is a good year to be a football fan.