Ohio State’s quarterback room took a sharp turn, and the next man up is Luke Fahey.
The freshman from California was supposed to be a third-string option this season, but he climbed past Tavien St. Clair to claim the backup job. With Julian Sayin injured, Fahey is now the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback, at least for the USC game.
Fahey arrived in Columbus with a résumé that already hinted at why Ohio State wanted him. He threw for 7,021 yards over four seasons at Mission Viejo High School, completing 68.9% of his passes with 68 touchdowns and just nine interceptions.
Even though he was only a full-time starter for one season, he still left a real mark. As a sophomore, he helped Mission Viejo win a CIF State Division 1-AA championship.
As a senior, he completed 207 of 292 passes for 3,199 yards, 25 touchdowns and three interceptions, while also adding 53 carries for 340 yards and six scores. He also set a school record with 569 passing yards in a win over Los Alamitos.
Ohio State landed him on July 3, 2025, less than two weeks after he received an offer on his official visit. The staff had been tracking him before that visit, and once the evaluation process wrapped up, everyone involved felt good enough about what he could bring to move forward.
Fahey took the opening. He was the Buckeyes’ lone quarterback in the 2026 class, signing as the 35th-ranked QB in that group.
Other names Ohio State considered included Jared Curtis, Faizon Brandon, Dia Bell and Ryder Lyons.
The fit was never just about football, either. Fahey grew up in Southern California, but Ohio State had been the dream. His dad’s parents met at Ohio State, and he grew up watching the Buckeyes and wanting to wear scarlet and gray himself.
“I always had in the back of my mind, like, if I ever got the opportunity to play (for Ohio State), that I would always take full advantage of that opportunity,” Fahey told Eleven Warriors in July 2025 following his commitment. “When I got the offer, I feel like when I went home and everything, it was kind of like a no-brainer for me, just because again, I grew up a huge fan, and it’s kind of like everything that they have at that school, it’s all positive, and it’s a great opportunity for definitely a quarterback to go and pursue his dreams there and further his football career and a great academic career.”
His rise through the depth chart happened fast once camp opened. After Fahey lost his black stripe on August 15, Ryan Day said he was “putting a lot of pressure” on St.
Clair in the backup battle, even though St. Clair was older and came in as a top-10 overall prospect in his class.
Then came the surprise. Fahey was the second quarterback into the game after Ohio State built a big lead over Ball State in the opener, and he did it again two weeks later against Kent State.
After that, Day said Fahey would stay in the No. 2 role.
His numbers in relief were uneven but notable. Against Ball State and Kent State, Fahey completed 9 of 11 passes for 203 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He didn’t throw a pass until last week at Indiana, where he went 0-for-2, took a sack and still picked up eight rushing yards on a scramble that turned into a first down after a late hit by Indiana linebacker Isaiah Jones.
Now the job is his, and the Buckeyes are moving ahead with Fahey as the starter while Sayin is out.
Those around the program sound convinced he’s ready for it.
“He’s a competitive kid. I don’t think the moment was too big for him.
It was just moving fast for him. And if he had a few more drives, I think he would have found the speed he needed.”- Ryan Day after the Indiana game
“I think he did everything the right way. Handled the pressure very well.
When We were on the sideline, the defense was out there, I was telling him, ‘We got you. Everybody’s behind you.
O-Line, Receivers, everybody’s behind you. Just keep Composed.’”- Jeremiah Smith after the Indiana game
“He’s got a certain moxie about him as a quarterback. When you have a moxie about you, you just have the confidence about yourself to go out there and play like he does.
It doesn’t surprise me where he’s at. He’s going to be a heck of a player.
I know he’s super excited, and we’re going to have his back.”- Luke Montgomery after the Indiana game
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