Ohio State’s search for a transfer quarterback may already be getting thinner by the day.
With Julian Sayin’s throwing shoulder injury potentially wiping out what could be his final college season, the Buckeyes may need a veteran answer if Luke Fahey or Tavien St. Clair isn’t ready to handle the job. That makes the portal a possible lifeline for 2027, but two of the most intriguing names linked to that possibility may not be available after all.
Braden Atkinson, who has erupted at Oregon State, got a meaningful reason to stick around on Friday afternoon. Beavers wideout Jesse Legree announced he would be re-signing with Oregon State for the 2027 season.
In a college football world where players are now making midseason declarations about the future, that matters. Atkinson had been one of the tempting names for Ohio State fans to dream on, even if he wasn’t really a clean fit in Arthur Smith’s system.
Arch Manning is the other big name getting pulled into the transfer speculation machine, but the buzz there points away from Columbus. Manning opened his run as Texas’ full-time starter with a 14-7 loss to Ohio State at the “Shoe” in Week 1 of the 2025 season, which made a future Scarlet and Gray ending feel like a neat little story. Instead, the chatter has him headed toward Ole Miss if he decides to 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.'”
That’s still just rumor, and the direction of that rumor doesn’t point toward Big Ten country.
If Ohio State needs to go shopping, Minnesota’s Drake Lindsey looks like the kind of quarterback that fits what Arthur Smith wants to do. The Golden Gophers have been better under P.J.
Fleck, but they may not have the resources to win a bidding war for a rising quarterback. OSU, meanwhile, has shown it can pull in a proven veteran when necessary, just like it did with Will Howard from Kansas State before the 2024 championship season.
If the Buckeyes end up needing a portal move, Lindsey is the name that makes the most sense for Mark Pantoni and company to track. And with Atkinson and Manning both looking increasingly unlikely, the pool may already be shrinking fast.
In Other News...
Ohio State's 2027 QB Battle Suddenly Looks More Complicated
Julian Sayins elbow injury adds an unexpected layer to Ohio States quarterback picture, and not just for the immediate season. The Buckeyes starter is expected to be out indefinitely, which naturally shifts attention to how the program will sort out the position beyond this year, when a new competition could already be taking shape.
Luke Fahey, five-star prospect Tavien St. Clair and possible transfer quarterbacks all sit in the mix for 2027, but Sayins injury also makes his own future harder to read. A path that once seemed pointed toward the 2027 NFL draft now looks far less certain, and Ohio State suddenly has a quarterback situation that feels more crowded, and more unsettled, than it did a week ago. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State's Running Back Board Is Nearing A Huge Recruiting Test
Ohio States work on the 2027 class is already starting to take shape, and the running back board is one of the most interesting parts of it. Jordan Hall and Tranard Roberts both remain key targets, with commitment decision dates approaching, while the staff has also gotten involved with Kingston Allen, a current Wisconsin commit, as it looks to keep building depth at the position for the future.
The Buckeyes are not limiting their attention to one cycle, either. Ohio State has also continued pursuing offensive lineman Ty Winn from the 2028 class, a sign that the staff is staying aggressive on multiple fronts while several recruiting choices loom. With a handful of decisions expected soon, this stretch could go a long way toward showing how the Buckeyes want to shape the offensive board going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Faces A Risky Quarterback Choice In Its Title Push
Ohio State is suddenly in a delicate spot at the most important time of the season, with Julian Sayin sidelined and the Buckeyes putting the next week into a quarterback competition to sort out who should guide the offense. Freshman Luke Fahey, who has been the primary backup, got the call in the recent game, and the staff is now weighing whether he is the best fit to keep the unit steady as the title push continues.
Tavien St. Clair remains in the mix as well, which gives the Buckeyes options but also adds another layer of pressure to a decision they cannot afford to get wrong. For a team with championship hopes, this is not just about filling a vacancy for one game - it is about finding the right answer at quarterback before the season demands it. [Read more 🡒]