Ohio State is heading into Saturday with a quarterback question it has not had to answer often in this spot.
Ryan Day has navigated backup-QB situations before. Kyle McCord stepped in for an injured C.J.
Stroud against Akron in 2021, and Lincoln Keinholz and Devin Brown both played in the Cotton Bowl after McCord transferred before that game in 2023. But the Buckeyes have not had a backup start because of injury against a Big Ten opponent since Troy Smith in 2004.
Now, with Julian Sayin’s season ending against Indiana two weeks ago, Day has to choose between freshman Luke Fahey and sophomore Tavien St. Clair for the road game against USC. The decision is still open, and the offense could take on a different look depending on who gets the nod.
Fahey would bring one kind of pressure and possibility. The freshman, who grew up an hour away from Los Angeles, could be in line for his first start and Ohio State’s first win at USC since 1946. He had already won the QB2 job before Day reopened the competition this week, and he was the quarterback chosen to finish the Indiana game after Sayin went down.
Fahey earned that backup role with a strong summer, and Day praised the way he handled the offense.
"[It’s] been exciting to see him come in with a certain work ethic, run the offense at a pretty high level,” Day said of Fahey during summer practices.
In limited action against Ball State and Kent State, Fahey completed 9 of 11 passes for 183 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He has shown a quick processing style and the ability to escape the pocket, and he added an 8-yard run for a first down against Indiana.
Still, the size issue is real: at 5-foot-11, he would be the shortest quarterback Ohio State has started this century. Against a USC defensive line listed at 6-foot-2 or taller across the board, batted passes could become a problem and disrupt his timing.
St. Clair offers a very different profile.
When the 5-star freshman arrived in the 2025 class, the expectation was that he could be the next great Ohio State quarterback, and his spring game performance gave fans a glimpse of that upside. He hit Chris Henry Jr. on a 40-yard touchdown in that game and showed the kind of arm strength the Buckeyes covet.
His size stands out too. At 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, he brings the best combination of physical tools in the room.
The question is whether he can make the right choices consistently when the throws get tougher. In two games of limited action, St.
Clair has completed 5 of 7 passes for 52 yards, a touchdown and an interception. In the spring game, he led all quarterbacks with 166 passing yards, but he completed only 9 of 21 throws and also had two interceptions.
That kind of inconsistency matters in an offense built to throw the ball, especially with Heisman favorite Jeremiah Smith in the mix. No matter who starts, the Buckeyes are likely to lean more on the run than they would with Sayin.
The bigger concern is turnovers, and St. Clair appears more likely to force the issue.
Day still has time before making the call, and the choice should reveal plenty about what Ohio State wants to be the rest of the season.
In Other News...
Ohio State Heads Into USC With Key Availability Still Unsettled
Ohio States first injury report ahead of USC offered a clearer picture of the Buckeyes health, and it was not a particularly comforting one. Quarterback Julian Sayin was listed as out indefinitely, while safety Leroy Roker and running back Ja'Kobi Jackson were also ruled out, leaving Ryan Day and his staff with some important holes to account for as the matchup approaches.
There were a few brighter notes in the report, with players such as Jay Timmons and Brandon Inniss showing up as questionable rather than unavailable. Day also addressed availability and practice status, but with several key names still uncertain, Ohio State is heading into a major Big Ten test with more decisions left to settle than it would prefer. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State's Latest Recruiting Push Centers On Two Elite Visitors
Ohio States recruiting staff is staying busy on the West Coast and beyond, with a new offer out to 2029 athlete Kuika Moaalii from powerhouse St. John Bosco. At 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, Moaalii is already drawing attention from multiple major programs, which fits the Buckeyes ongoing push to stay in the mix early with some of the nations most coveted young prospects.
The broader target list also includes 2028 offensive lineman RMonie Edwards and linebacker Tahj Gray, two highly ranked players who already have plenty of offers on the table. Ohio State is working to line up campus visits and keep building relationships, a familiar part of the process for a program that wants to be in position when the recruiting picture starts to get clearer. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Waiting On A Crucial John Mobley Jr. Return
Ohio State is still waiting to get a better read on John Mobley Jr., whose right ankle injury came in an exhibition game against Butler and has kept him out of practice since then. Coach Jake Diebler said the Buckeyes are cautiously optimistic about the guards recovery, but for now the situation remains fluid as they work through the final stretch before a matchup with BYU.
Mobley matters because he is more than just another rotation piece. The preseason All-Big Ten selection was one of Ohio States top scorers in the exhibitions, and his availability could shape how the Buckeyes handle an early-season test that already feels important for their backcourt depth. Diebler said the team expects more clarity on availability before the game, which is the kind of update Ohio State would much rather have sooner than later. [Read more 🡒]