If you walk down Lane Avenue on a Saturday morning in November, you'll hear the same debate echoing from the tailgates: who’s the next guy? For a program that basically became a Quarterback University under Ryan Day, the transition from the C.J. Stroud era has been—to put it lightly—a total rollercoaster. It’s been a mix of massive transfer portal wins, heartbreaking injuries, and five-star recruits who left before they even finished their first semester's worth of laundry.
Most fans look at the stat sheets and see the wins, but the real story of ohio state recent quarterbacks is a lot messier than the box scores suggest. We’ve seen the Buckeyes pivot from "homegrown development" to "portal reliance" and back again in the blink of an eye.
The Will Howard Experiment and the 2024 Title Run
Let’s be real: when Will Howard first hopped in the portal from Kansas State, a lot of people were skeptical. He wasn’t the flashy, dual-threat superstar that fans expected to replace the McCord-sized hole in their hearts. But honestly? Howard was exactly what the 2024 Buckeyes needed. He was a grown man playing a kid's game.
Howard’s 2024 season was legendary, not just because he threw for 4,010 yards and 35 touchdowns, but because he stayed cool when the lights were the brightest. You’ve gotta remember the pressure he was under. He led the Buckeyes to a school-record 14 wins. He wasn't just managing the game; he was dicing up defenses in the College Football Playoff.
That National Championship win over Notre Dame? Howard was the MVP. He completed 17 of 21 passes. He even scrambled for 57 yards when the pocket collapsed. It was the kind of gritty, "toughness-first" performance that Ryan Day had been begging for. Howard ended his career with a 71.4% completion rate at Ohio State, a school record that felt almost impossible until he actually did it.
Julian Sayin: The Crown Prince of Columbus
Once Howard headed off to the NFL (shoutout to the Steelers for grabbing him in the sixth round), the keys to the Ferrari were handed to Julian Sayin. This kid is different. Seriously.
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Sayin didn't even take the traditional route. He signed with Alabama, Nick Saban retired, and Sayin was in Columbus before the ink on his enrollment papers was even dry. It felt like a heist. While he sat behind Howard during the 2024 title run, he wasn't just chilling on the sidelines. He was learning.
The 2025 season was Sayin’s coming-out party. As a true sophomore, he basically broke the NCAA record for completion percentage, hovering around 78.4%. That’s not just "good college quarterback" numbers; that’s "video game on easy mode" numbers. He’s got this weirdly fast internal clock. Chip Kelly, the offensive coordinator who’s been around the block a few times, calls him a "fast processor." Sayin doesn’t stare down receivers. He just sees the field, clicks a button in his head, and the ball is gone.
He’s already been named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and a Walter Camp finalist. If you’re betting on the 2026 Heisman, his name is probably at the top of your list alongside Jeremiah Smith.
The Transfers and the "What Ifs"
It hasn’t all been roses and championships, though. The quarterback room in Columbus has been a revolving door lately, and that’s just the nature of the beast in the NIL era.
Take Devin Brown, for example. The guy wore No. 33 as a tribute to Sammy Baugh and had all the "moxie" in the world. But football is a cruel game. Every time it looked like he was about to seize the moment—like the 2023 Cotton Bowl—he’d get hit with a fluke injury. After the 2024 season, Brown realized the Sayin train was moving too fast. He entered the portal, headed to Cal, and eventually ended up at Weber State to reunite with his high school coach. It’s a bit of a bummer for a guy who was so loyal to the Buckeyes for so long.
Then there’s Air Noland.
He was the high school superstar, the lefty with the quick release. But the "Quarterback Room" at Ohio State got crowded. Fast. When Sayin showed up, the writing was on the wall. Noland didn't stick around to be a backup for three years. He bolted for South Carolina in late 2024, looking for a clearer path to the field.
It’s easy to call these guys "quitters" from your couch, but in 2026, if you aren't playing, you're losing money and NFL draft stock. Simple as that.
Why the 2025 Season Felt Different
Despite the talent, 2025 ended on a bit of a sour note. The Buckeyes were the most talented team in the country, but they got stunned by Miami in the CFP Quarterfinals. Sayin played well, but the offensive line finally gave out.
That loss exposed a major shift in how we look at ohio state recent quarterbacks. It’s no longer just about having a superstar under center. You need the hogs up front to protect them. Ryan Day is now facing a 2026 season where he has to replace a lot of NFL-bound talent.
Sayin is staying. That’s the good news. But the depth behind him? It’s basically a bunch of question marks. Lincoln Kienholz is still there, and they’ve got Justyn Martin coming in from Maryland to provide some veteran depth, but the "unlimited five-star" era of the depth chart might be cooling off just a little bit.
What to Watch for in 2026
If you're a Buckeye fan, or just someone who follows the chaos of the Big Ten, here is what you actually need to keep an eye on:
- Julian Sayin’s Heisman Campaign: He’s the undisputed leader now. With Jeremiah Smith still catching passes, the stats are going to be astronomical.
- The Transfer Portal Safety Net: Don't be surprised if Day goes hunting for another veteran backup. One injury to Sayin and the 2026 season could tank.
- Tavien St. Clair’s Development: The freshman from Bellefontaine is the "local hero" recruit. He’s huge (6'4", 230 lbs) and has a cannon. If Sayin is the "processor," St. Clair is the "powerhouse."
The reality of the situation is that Ohio State has moved into a "one-and-done" or "two-and-done" cycle with their signal-callers. The days of a guy sitting for three years and then starting for two are basically dead. You either win the job early, or you find a new home.
The pressure isn't going away, either. At Ohio State, a 12-1 season with a Rose Bowl win is a failure. You win the Big Ten, you beat Michigan, and you win the natty. Howard did it. Sayin is trying to do it twice.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, keep your eyes on the spring practice reports. That's where the real separation happens. We'll see if Sayin can handle being the "hunted" instead of the "hunter" this time around.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Monitor the Spring Game (usually in April) to see how Tavien St. Clair is adjusting to the speed of the college game.
- Watch the Transfer Portal winter window closely; Ohio State often looks for a "bridge" veteran if their younger backups aren't showing enough consistency.
- Follow the NFL Combine results for Will Howard to see how his Buckeyes production translates to pro scouts’ expectations.