Ohio State’s quarterback situation has taken a sharp turn, and the Buckeyes may need to start thinking ahead in a big way.
The 2026 season unraveled after early struggles and an offense that never quite found steady footing. Then came the moment that changed everything: in Ohio State’s 19-15 win over Indiana, starting quarterback Julian Sayin suffered a season-ending injury.
Since then, first-year quarterback Luke Fahey has been handed the job, but the results haven’t been there. The Buckeyes have dropped their last two games with him under center.
That kind of setback makes one thing clear: Ohio State may need to attack the transfer portal more aggressively and build a deeper quarterback room for what comes next.
If the Buckeyes go shopping, Minnesota’s Drake Lindsey is one name that could make sense. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound sophomore has played in nine games this season and has completed 60.8% of his passes for 1,797 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The issue has been turnovers, with seven interceptions on the year. Over his last four games, Minnesota has lost three, and Lindsey has thrown two touchdowns against two interceptions.
He’s topped 200 passing yards only twice in that stretch.
Minnesota could look to reset this offseason, and if that leads to Lindsey hitting the portal, Ohio State would have a chance to pounce. He wouldn’t need to be thrown into the fire right away. In theory, he could spend a season learning behind Sayin and getting acclimated to Ohio State before taking over for his final year of college football.
Another option is Memphis junior Marcus Stokes, who has been one of the more electric quarterbacks in the sport this season. Through nine games, he’s completed 69.1% of his passes on 259 attempts for 2,532 yards and 25 touchdowns. He’s averaging 281 yards per game and owns a 178.5 passer rating, while turning it over just six times with interceptions.
Memphis is 7-2 with Stokes leading the way, but the Tigers haven’t measured up as well against top-tier competition, with losses to Tulane and Boise State earlier in the season. A former Division II player, Stokes could decide this offseason that it’s time to make the jump to a bigger stage.
He was also recently added to the Davey O'Brien QB Class of 2026, putting him in the mix for the 2026 Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award.
Stokes brings the kind of game Ohio State could use: the arm to push the ball downfield, the mobility to create extra yards, and the background of someone who has already climbed the college ranks. For a Buckeyes program looking for life after Sayin, he would fit the bill. Sitting behind Sayin for a season could set him up nicely for the future.
In Other News...
Ohio State Suddenly Has A Receiver Problem Before Northwestern
With both teams heading into Saturday already short at quarterback, Ohio States offensive picture has gotten a little murkier than expected. The Buckeyes were already preparing for life without their starter under center, but the injury report also puts a spotlight on the receiver room, where Brandon Inniss, Phillip Bell and Brock Boyd are all listed as questionable. That is a notable wrinkle for an offense that may need to lean on its depth and simplify things a bit against Northwestern.
The concern does not stop there, either. Running back JaKobi Jackson and tight end Max LeBlanc remain sidelined, which takes away more of the supporting cast around the passing game and limits some of the flexibility in the game plan. Northwestern has its own long list of absences, including starting quarterback Aidan Chiles and cornerback Josh Fussell, but for Ohio State the bigger issue is whether it can line up enough healthy targets to keep the offense moving cleanly. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States 2027 Running Back Picture Just Got More Interesting
Ohio States 2027 running back board got a notable boost with the addition of Daylon Gordon, a four-star prospect from Wylie, Texas, who has now committed to the Buckeyes. Gordon had previously been pledged to Texas State, but his move gives Ohio State another highly regarded back in a class the staff is still actively shaping.
The commitment also keeps the door open for more movement at the position, since Ohio State is continuing to pursue additional running backs for the 2027 cycle. Gordons offer list already included multiple Power 4 schools, so his decision adds more weight to a class that is still far from finished and could become even more crowded before signing day arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Gets A Tricky Northwestern Test Few Fans Saw Coming
Northwestern is about to bring a very different look into Columbus, and not just because of the quarterback situation. With Aidan Chiles sidelined by injury, Nicco Marchiol is expected to make the start, giving the Wildcats a fresh wrinkle as they head into a matchup that already carries extra intrigue for Ohio State. The game also comes with a familiar face on the other sideline in Chip Kelly, the former Buckeyes offensive coordinator now running Northwestern's offense.
There is also the setting itself, which has changed in a major way since the last time many fans thought about this program. Northwestern is now playing in a new stadium that replaced Ryan Field, a project made possible by a significant donation from the Ryan family. Between the new venue, the quarterback change and Kelly's presence, this is shaping up as the kind of tricky Big Ten test that can sneak up on a team if it is not ready from the opening snap. [Read more 🡒]