Ohio State’s quarterback room has already produced one surprise in fall camp, and it may be enough to shake up the depth chart behind Julian Sayin.
Sayin remains the clear starter as the Buckeyes work through practices with Week 1 against Ball State just a couple of weeks away. Tavien St. Clair entered camp as the expected backup after a strong Spring Game, but Ryan Day said Luke Fahey is now making a real push for that No. 2 job.
Fahey, a three-star recruit from California, has not only shed his black stripe, he’s earned notice for the way he’s handling his limited chances. As a true freshman quarterback, he isn’t getting many reps, so the ones he does get have mattered.
Day said Fahey is pushing St. Clair for the backup quarterback spot, even though St.
Clair looked strong in the spring.
That doesn’t necessarily mean the depth chart is about to flip. St.
Clair still looks like the more likely option if Sayin were ever unavailable, and Day could also be using the competition to challenge him to sharpen up in practice. Either way, Ohio State appears to have more quarterback depth than expected this time of year.
The news on Fahey came as more freshmen continue to lose their black stripes in camp, including cornerback Jay Timmons, who could be pressing for a starting role.
Beyond quarterback, Ohio State is still sorting out the rest of its offense. The Buckeyes could have the best offense in the country in 2026, with Sayin in his second year as a starter and Jeremiah Smith still on the roster. But the line has to come together first.
Four of the five projected offensive line starters are back, and the staff is still mixing and matching groups in first-team reps. Austin Siereveld is going to start somewhere up front, but Ohio State has not settled whether that spot will be at left tackle or right guard.
Siereveld missed a few practices after getting hurt, which slowed that process down. Day had originally wanted to name the starting offensive line this week, but that decision will have to wait.
For now, the quarterback battle behind Sayin remains the most interesting subplot in camp. And for Ohio State, the hope is simple: don’t have to find out who the real backup is.
In Other News...
Ohio State Camp Battles Are Raising Early Concerns At Key Positions
Ohio States fall camp has already taken on the feel of an open audition, with the Buckeyes trying to fill holes left behind by NFL Draft departures while sorting out several key position battles. The competition has been wide open enough that early reps have mattered, and three players in particular, Legend Bey, Bo Jackson and Connor Hawkins, have all dealt with some version of camp friction, whether from injury, uneven play or the pressure that comes with trying to lock down a starting job.
Legend Bey and Bo Jackson are still working through the kind of growing pains that can come with a crowded camp, and the staff has reason to keep watching both closely as the depth chart takes shape. Hawkins, meanwhile, has been part of a shaky early kicking picture, and the overall concern is less about one bad day than about how quickly Ohio State can settle these spots before the questions start following the Buckeyes into the season. [Read more 🡒]
Arthur Smith Is Letting Julian Sayin Run Ohio State His Way
Arthur Smith is giving Julian Sayin a fair amount of room to steer Ohio States offense this season, and that says plenty about where the Buckeyes think their quarterback is headed. Smith has talked openly about trusting Sayin to manage things in a more traditional way, leaning into the rhythm and cadence that come naturally to him after a season in which he set a program record by completing 77% of his passes.
There is also a clear sense that the staff is building around more than just the quarterbacks accuracy. Sayin showed real touch on deep throws, and Smiths work with defensive coordinator Matt Patricia on game planning suggests Ohio State is trying to keep the operation sharp on both sides of the ball. The bigger question now is how far Smith lets Sayins comfort level shape the offense once the games start to matter. [Read more 🡒]