Urban Meyer didn’t have to think long when asked what Ohio State should do at quarterback.
The former Buckeyes coach has been through this exact kind of crisis before, and he saw enough on Tuesday to offer a clear opinion on the situation behind Julian Sayin. On the Triple Option Podcast, Meyer said he was surprised that “the five-star” wasn’t the first option to come off the bench when Sayin went down.
Meyer’s perspective carries weight because Ohio State has already lived this movie once. His 2014 national title team hit a brutal roadblock in the final game of the regular season against Michigan when JT Barrett broke his ankle and was finished for the year. Cardale Jones stepped in and sparked the rest of the run, helping the Buckeyes beat Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship, then Alabama and Oregon on the way to the title.
This time, Ryan Day is the one sorting through the next move, and he does not have Meyer’s old staff experience to lean on from that season. The Buckeyes escaped with a crucial win, but the quarterback question that followed is now the bigger issue. Who gives Ohio State the best chance to keep moving forward long-term?
For now, Day and his staff are taking the competition into the bye week, with the two quarterbacks getting a real chance to settle it in practice. That changes the feel of the week completely. What usually serves as a breather, a chance to reset and drill the basics, has turned into camp all over again.
Meyer said plainly what he would do if the decision were his: he would go with Tavien St. Clair.
Day is letting St. Clair and Fahey battle for the job this week, and the winner will be the one trusted to steer the Buckeyes back toward the College Football Playoff.
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