Urban Meyer has seen this movie before, and he thinks Ohio State may already know the move.
With Julian Sayin sidelined, the former Buckeyes head coach weighed in Tuesday on the quarterback picture and said he was surprised the “five-star” wasn’t the first option when Sayin went down. On the Triple Option Podcast, Meyer made it clear where he stands: if it were his call, Tavien St. Clair would be the choice.
That opinion carries some weight in Columbus. Meyer’s only national title at Ohio State came in 2014, when the Buckeyes had to pivot after JT Barrett broke his ankle in the regular-season finale against Michigan. Cardale Jones stepped in and powered the run that followed, beating Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship, then Alabama, then Oregon on the way to the title.
Ohio State is dealing with a different version of the same problem now, and the timing is tough. Sayin’s exit left the Buckeyes to sort out the position in the middle of the biggest game of the year, with eight minutes left against the best defense they’ll see all season.
They did enough to escape with a necessary win, but the quarterback question is now front and center again. The staff is using the bye week to let the two contenders battle it out in practice, and that means the break no longer feels like a break.
What is usually a stretch for recovery and fundamentals has turned into full-on camp mode on offense. The competition is on, and Ohio State is set to let St. Clair and Fahey go at it this week until the job sorts itself out.
For Meyer, the answer is St. Clair.
For Ryan Day, the answer will come from the field in practice. And the Buckeyes are hoping that answer is good enough to keep them moving toward the College Football Playoff.
In Other News...
Ohio State Suddenly Faces A Backfield Question Fans Wont Ignore
JaKobi Jacksons foot injury has turned into a real early-season concern for Ohio State, with the running back having undergone surgery for a Lisfranc issue and now expected to miss several games. The Buckeyes had hoped to get him back in time for the stretch run, and the latest sense around the program is that a return against Michigan remains the target, with the postseason also in view.
Arthur Smith said the timeline is still uncertain, which leaves Ohio State managing the backfield without a clear date for Jacksons return. For a team that knows how much late-season stability matters, especially in rivalry week and beyond, this is the kind of situation that can reshape how the offense handles the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States Backfield Just Got More Important Than Ever
JaKobi Jacksons absence is becoming a bigger storyline for Ohio State by the day. The running back underwent surgery for a Lisfranc foot injury and is expected to miss several games after getting hurt against Maryland, which also kept him out against Indiana. The Buckeyes had already been navigating the usual churn of a long season, but losing a back with hopes of returning before the end of the year changes the calculation in a hurry.
Julian Sayins injury only adds to the pressure on the offense, with the quarterback situation still indefinite and the backfield carrying more of the load. For Ohio State, that means the ground game is no longer just a complement to the passing attack, it is central to how the Buckeyes get through the next stretch. The staff will be watching closely to see who can absorb the snaps and steady the offense until Jackson has a chance to come back. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Day Fuels A Bigger Ohio State Officiating Debate
Ryan Day did not hide his irritation after Ohio States recent game against Indiana, where he said multiple missed calls left the Buckeyes feeling like they were playing through more than just the opponent. His frustration centered on what he viewed as overlooked pass interference against Jeremiah Smith, part of a broader complaint about the overall quality of the officiating and the way it affected Ohio States rhythm.
The issue is bigger than one sequence or one Sunday morning gripe, because Day framed it as something that can shape a games flow and, in his view, the standard has to be better. For a program that expects its margin for error to be thin already, even a few missed whistles can become the kind of talking point that lingers well beyond the final score. [Read more 🡒]