HC Ryan Day Holding Back on Naming Starting QB — Sayin or Kienholz? The Decision Waits Another Week

In Columbus, the quarterback conversation is heating up—but don’t expect an answer from Ryan Day just yet. The Ohio State head coach made it clear this week that the battle between true freshman Julian Sayin and sophomore Lincoln Kienholz won’t be settled until next week.

For Buckeyes fans, that means another round of speculation, debates, and maybe a few too many Twitter arguments. Sayin, the highly touted recruit with an arm that can slice through any secondary, has impressed with his poise and accuracy in camp. On the other hand, Kienholz, who has a year in Day’s system, brings familiarity and a competitive edge that’s hard to ignore.

Day’s decision to hold off isn’t just gamesmanship—it’s about squeezing every ounce of competition from his quarterbacks before Week 1. “Both guys are doing great things, and both guys have things they’re still working on,” Day said. Translation? The door is still wide open.

Of course, this delay has fans reading into every throw, every drill, every facial expression during practice. Some see Sayin as the future, others think Kienholz’s experience will give him the nod. Either way, the Buckeyes will take the field soon enough—and when they do, one of these two will be handed the keys to one of college football’s most high-powered offenses.

Until then, Buckeye Nation waits. And speculates.

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