Ryan Day still isn’t ready to hand Ohio State a starting quarterback publicly, but the picture is getting clearer by the day.
On Monday’s Buckeye Roundtable show on the Ohio State Sports Network, Day was asked about how Luke Fahey has handled the chance to take over as the Buckeyes’ new starter. He didn’t confirm anything.
Instead, he pointed to a productive bye week for both Fahey and Tavien St. Clair, saying both took advantage of the extra work.
"I feel like this past week was a good opportunity for both (Luke) and Tavien to get work," Day said. "I feel like both guys have embraced it.
I think it's different when you're getting reps with the ones as opposed to the twos and threes. And time will tell, but there's been a lot of energy in practice.
I think the guys are up for the challenge and are excited to go play USC."
That fits with what Day said last week, when he made clear both quarterbacks would get work with the first team during the bye. He also said Fahey had earned the backup role behind Julian Sayin, which is why Fahey was first up against Ball State and Kent State, and why he was the first quarterback used after Sayin was injured against Indiana.
Taken together, that leaves Fahey as the likely starter unless St. Clair separated himself during the bye and the next round of game prep before Ohio State heads to Los Angeles.
Day’s bigger message wasn’t about sorting out the depth chart. It was about the response around it.
No matter who starts against USC on Saturday, he wants the whole operation pulling in the same direction behind a young quarterback making his first career start.
"To play our best football late in the season and accomplish our goals despite going through some setbacks like this is an unbelievable opportunity. And I think it's important for everybody to rally," Day said.
"We need everybody on this team, but we also need everybody in the community, our fans, Buckeye Nation, everybody to rally around this team and rally around a young quarterback. And so we'll start that on Saturday."
He doubled down on that point, saying the Buckeyes will need the entire program to make things as smooth as possible for the quarterback taking the reins.
“We all got to be tighter here. We got to help a young quarterback get his first win as a Buckeye.
And it's going to take our best,” Day said. “And that means everyone that’s part of the program has got to be really good in everything that we do.
So extra focus this week. Not that we need to be focused any more; I mean, obviously, we know how good of a team USC is, and we know the talent, we know the coaches, we know everything about it.
And we know what we’re up against this week. But having a new starting quarterback is just another reason to stay even more focused.”
In Other News...
Ohio State Suddenly Has A Quarterback Depth Problem Fans Cant Ignore
Ohio States quarterback room looks a lot different than the one fans expected to see heading into the season, and the ripple effects are hard to ignore. With starter Julian Sayin dealing with an injury, Ryan Day is expected to turn to true freshman Luke Fahey in the backup role, a move that instantly shines a light on just how young and unproven the depth chart has become behind center.
Former coach Urban Meyer has already raised the question many around the program are asking, wondering why five-star prospect Tavien St. Clair is not in position to back up Sayin despite his obvious talent. It is the kind of quarterback situation that can feel manageable in September and suddenly become a real concern if the Buckeyes need answers in a hurry, especially with a room made up mostly of true freshmen, redshirt freshmen and a senior transfer who has limited starting experience. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Stays In The Spotlight As USC Trip Brings Bigger Concern
Ohio State remains squarely in the national conversation after the Week 8 US LBM Coaches Poll placed the Buckeyes at No. 2, just behind Miami and ahead of a reshuffled top five that includes Georgia moving up to No. 3. For a program carrying playoff expectations every week, the ranking is less of a surprise than a reminder of how little margin there is at the top, especially with Oregon sliding out of the mix after a loss.
The bigger immediate issue is the trip to USC, where Ohio State is still waiting on a starting quarterback announcement expected soon. The Buckeyes have plenty of attention coming their way no matter how the poll looks, but the quarterback decision adds another layer to a game that already feels like a test of where this team really stands as the schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States Final Tune Up Brought A Big Reason For Optimism
Ohio States final preseason test in Columbus gave the Buckeyes a useful snapshot of where this roster can go, and a few familiar faces made the evening feel bigger than a typical tune-up. In an 82-73 win over Butler, the Buckeyes got strong contributions from several key players, with Amare Bynum leading the way with 23 points while John Mobley Jr., LJ Smith and Justin Pippen all played important roles in the buildup to the regular season.
The night also carried a healthy dose of program history. Jon Diebler was back around the team, and former head coach Thad Matta was honored at halftime, adding some extra weight to an exhibition that already felt like more than just a warmup. For Ohio State, the performance offered reasons to feel encouraged, even if the bigger questions about how this group will mesh are still waiting to be answered when the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]