Ohio State’s quarterback search for 2027 may already be shrinking fast.
With Julian Sayin’s throwing shoulder injury possibly bringing an end to what could be his final college season, the Buckeyes may need a veteran from the portal if Luke Fahey or Tavien St. Clair isn’t ready to step in.
That’s where some of the biggest names in college football rumors had started to pop up. But two of those possibilities now look less likely to be available.
Braden Atkinson is one of them. The Oregon State quarterback has become a breakout name in Corvallis, and that alone was enough to send people projecting his next move.
Still, a notable sign on Friday afternoon pointed toward him staying put. Oregon State receiver Jesse Legree announced he would be re-signing with the Beavers for the 2027 season.
Atkinson wasn’t viewed as an ideal fit in Arthur Smith’s system anyway, even if the idea of his arm in Columbus had some appeal. That thought may be better left behind now.
Arch Manning is another name that had naturally entered the conversation, but the buzz around him does not point toward Ohio State. Manning’s first full season as Texas’ QB1 began with a 14-7 loss to the Buckeyes at the Shoe in Week 1 of the 2025 season, which made the idea of his career ending in Scarlet and Gray feel oddly fitting. Instead, the chatter has him headed in the opposite direction, with Ole Miss emerging as the rumored landing spot if he does leave Texas.
“Arch could transfer,” NFL insider Tom Pelissero said on The Bill Simmons Podcast. “I texted one person who's known Arch for a long time, and I said, 'Where do you see Arch in 2027,' and his response was, 'Ole Miss.'”
For Ohio State, that leaves the search leaning toward a different type of portal target. Minnesota quarterback Drake Lindsey stands out as the cleanest fit for Arthur Smith’s offense, and if the Buckeyes decide they need to go shopping for a proven quarterback, he is the name Mark Pantoni and company need to have on the radar.
The Gophers may be on the rise under P.J. Fleck, but Minnesota may not be in position to win a bidding war for Lindsey. Ohio State, by contrast, has already shown it can go get a veteran when necessary, just as it did with Will Howard from Kansas State before the 2024 championship season.
If Sayin is out, never fully returns, or eventually chases the NFL, Ohio State’s portal plan could become pretty simple. And after the latest rumors, the pool already looks a lot thinner than it did a few days ago.
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