The entire purpose of college football is to reach the NFL. But when you are stuck on the bench at a powerhouse like the Ohio State Buckeyes, getting noticed by scouts becomes complex, and getting drafted becomes even harder. Unfortunately, that moment has come for Ohio State QB2 Lincoln Kienholz after having a word with Ryan Day.

“I’ve definitely had conversations,” Lincoln Kienholz said on Cotton Bowl media day. “I’m not 100% sure, but my goal is to go to the NFL, and in order to do that, you gotta play. So I’ve had conversations with Coach Day and also with Coach Fessler a little bit about it.”

Kienholz understands the reality of the situation. To reach the NFL, he needs consistent game reps and film. His goal is to find a spot where he can actually be the starting QB and show what he can do. Right now at Ohio State, it’s pretty obvious QB1 Julian Sayin is still QB1 heading to 2026.

The timing of those conversations is notable. Ohio State is deep into Cotton Bowl preparation after an extended layoff, having not played since its loss to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game. And just like last postseason, the Buckeyes are navigating transfer portal realities alongside a College Football Playoff run.

To make it worse, he’s just a freshman, and Kienholz has maybe a year or two ahead of him. Rather than risk spending most of his college career as a backup, Kienholz appears ready to roll the dice on himself and pursue a starting role in a Power Four conference. With his eligibility clock already running, waiting another season without clarity would only tighten his margin for error.

The transfer portal does not officially open until Friday, January 2, and no paperwork has been filed yet. Mind you, these are just necessary conversations, not decisions. The good news is he’s a team player, though, and plans to stay with the squad through their playoff run, a path Ohio State has seen before, with some players choosing to exit during last year’s national title push.

He basically said that finishing the season with the team is “my duty as a player” and that he has to “stay here and finish it out with my guys.”

That means, regardless of what happens after the Cotton Bowl, Kienholz will be there on the sidelines rocking an Ohio State jersey during the playoff games.

So far, Kienholz’s stats at Ohio State are pretty minimal because he hasn’t seen much action. He’s completed just 21 of 36 passes for 250 yards and one touchdown. He’s also used his legs a bit, adding 68 yards and two rushing touchdowns. These numbers scream “needs more playing time,” which is precisely why he’s looking for greener pastures where he can develop his skills.

Those numbers don’t reflect his recruiting profile, a four-star prospect from the 2023 class, ranked by 247Sports as the No. 11 quarterback nationally, but rather the depth chart reality he’s been stuck behind.

Ultimately, this is a young player trying to figure out his path and chase his dreams. He’s handling it pretty maturely by being honest about his situation while still supporting his team. It’s unlikely he’ll remain with the program next season, but for now, the focus remains on seeing the year through. Keep your ears open for an official decision right after the Cotton Bowl game later this week.

That said, the immediate focus remains on the game itself. The bigger question is whether Ohio State’s offense can roll through Miami’s defense as many of us expected, or if it turns into another grind-it-out affair like the Indiana game. Let’s break it down.

Ohio State Buckeyes’ offense could easily dismantle Mario Cristobal’s defense

Ohio State likes to throw the ball more than most teams, passing about 7% more than expected. Even though Miami has an intense pass rush, Ohio State’s offensive line has been solid, ranking 12th in pressure rate allowed. Miami ranks 6th in pressure created, but that pressure does not always lead to big plays.

Julian Sayin has handled pressure well for most of the season. He completed 66% of his passes when pressured, which is likely the best in the country. Over the full season, he’s completed 78.4% of his throws for 3,323 yards, 31 touchdowns, and just six interceptions, posting a 182.1 passer rating and a 90.1 QBR that ranks second nationally.

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Miami has struggled to turn pressure into sacks, converting only 17% of pressures into sacks, which ranks 73rd nationally. That is good news for Ohio State because Sayin is good at avoiding sacks. Even against Indiana, when he was pressured on 44% of his dropbacks and sacked five times. Despite that, he still averaged 9.2 yards per attempt when under pressure.

These statistics show he’s one phenomenal clutch player.

Ohio State will probably focus on short, quick passes to slow down Miami’s pass rush. Miami allows 6.7 yards per completion on throws five yards or shorter and struggles with tackling, missing a tackle once every 4.2 catches.

Ohio State does not throw deep very often, only 18% of the time. But Sayin has completed an impressive 65% of those deep passes, giving the Buckeyes a chance to take a few shots downfield.

In the run game, Miami has a slight edge, especially inside, but Ohio State prefers to run outside. The Buckeyes run outside the tackles 64% of the time, and Miami allows 4.8 yards per carry on those runs, with Ohio State’s disciplined play and balanced attack. The Buckeyes should be able to move the ball and put pressure on Miami’s defense all night long.