Lincoln Kienholz finally got his chance to open a game at quarterback, and even in a loss, he made it count.
The former Ohio State QB, now at Louisville, turned in a big performance against Ole Miss before the Cardinals fell 41-38 on a game-winning field goal from the Rebels. Kienholz had a rough first half, including a missed throw to a wide-open receiver that would have gone for a touchdown, and that mistake loomed large in the end.
But the rest of his night showed exactly why Louisville gave him the shot. Kienholz went 18 of 29 for 307 yards and two passing touchdowns, and he added 14 carries for 69 yards and another score on the ground. Just as important, he didn’t turn the ball over.
For Kienholz, it was a long-awaited breakthrough. He never started a game at Ohio State, and the only meaningful action he got against starters came in 2023 against Missouri.
His most notable Buckeyes appearance came in the Cotton Bowl after Kyle McCord transferred before the game, when Devin Brown was hurt early and Kienholz was forced into action. That outing didn’t go well, and he never got another real chance in Columbus.
Now, after transferring to Louisville, he’s showing he belongs as a starter. He also lost the starting job in 2025 at Ohio State to Julian Sayin, and the gap was clear when Sayin threw for 320 yards without even playing the full game in the Buckeyes’ win over Ball State.
There’s still a path forward for Louisville, too. The Cardinals can still make the College Football Playoff if they win the ACC and earn the automatic bid. They have only one more ranked opponent left on the schedule, SMU in Week 3, and they avoid Miami and Clemson in ACC play.
Kienholz stayed at Ohio State longer than he needed to, and Buckeye fans have reason to root for him now. He didn’t get a fair shot with the Buckeyes, but he gave Louisville a glimpse of what he can do. If the Cardinals keep winning, there’s even a chance Ohio State could see him again in a College Football Playoff game.
In Other News...
Ohio State Faces A More Dangerous Texas Test Than Last Year
The rematch on the schedule already carries enough weight, but this one comes with a different feel for Ohio State. The Buckeyes and Texas are meeting for the third straight year, only this time it is in Austin at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, with ESPNs College GameDay on hand and the Longhorns carrying a 1.5-point edge. After the last two seasons gave both programs a fresh look at each other, the matchup now arrives with even more attention and a bigger stage.
For Ohio State, the challenge is not just the venue or the buildup, but the version of Texas waiting on the other side. Arch Manning gives the Longhorns a new layer at quarterback, while new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp adds a familiar edge to that side of the ball. For a Buckeye team used to measuring itself against the nations best, this one feels less like another early heavyweight game and more like a true test of how much has changed since the last time these teams lined up. [Read more 🡒]
Lincoln Kienholz Just Sparked An Ohio State QB Debate
Lincoln Kienholz spent enough time around Ohio State to know how unforgiving the quarterback conversation can be there, and his latest outing at Louisville gave the discussion a fresh jolt. In his debut against Ole Miss, the former Buckeye showed the kind of production that turns heads quickly, topping 300 yards and throwing three touchdowns while looking comfortable as both a passer and a runner.
For Ohio State fans, the appeal is obvious because it feeds into the never-ending question of what might have been and what the Buckeyes missed when Kienholz moved on. His path also says something about the fit in college football: sometimes a player needs a different setup, a cleaner runway and a coach like Jeff Brohm to let the full skill set show up on game day, even as the foundation built in Columbus still shapes how he leads and handles the position. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan's QB Uncertainty Just Added Intrigue To The Game
Ohio State opened its season with a comfortable win over Ball State, while Michigan had a far less reassuring afternoon in a narrow escape against Western Michigan. That alone would have been enough to keep Buckeyes fans watching closely, but the storyline got more interesting when Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham left the door open on Bryce Underwoods status at quarterback, a notable twist for a position that usually settles the tone for the rest of the rivalry week chatter.
Underwoods uneven play has only deepened the questions around Michigans offense, and it carries extra weight because of what this game means beyond one Saturday in September. For Ohio State, any uncertainty on the other sideline only adds to the intrigue heading into a meeting where the Buckeyes will be paying attention to whether Michigan can steady itself, or whether the Wolverines are heading toward a bigger change than anyone expected. [Read more 🡒]