Ohio State’s search for a veteran quarterback help may be getting narrower by the day.
With Julian Sayin’s throwing shoulder injury potentially closing out what could be his final college season, the Buckeyes could be forced to lean on a transfer if Luke Fahey or Tavien St. Clair isn’t ready to take over. That makes the portal a critical space for Ohio State heading into 2027 - but two of the biggest names tied to that market may already be slipping away.
One of them is Braden Atkinson.
The Oregon State quarterback has turned heads with a breakout season in Corvallis, and that kind of rise usually invites immediate speculation about where he might land next. But a development on Friday afternoon may have offered a strong clue that Atkinson is staying put. Beavers receiver Jesse Legree announced he’d be re-signing with Oregon State for the 2027 season, which suggests there may be more stability around the program than the portal rumor mill would like to believe.
Atkinson was never an ideal fit in Arthur Smith’s system anyway, but the thought of his big arm in Columbus still had some appeal. That possibility looks a lot less realistic now.
Arch Manning is another name floating around, though this one comes with plenty of caveats. Manning’s first major test as Texas’ full-time starter came against Ohio State in the “Shoe,” where the Buckeyes beat the Longhorns 14-7 in Week 1 of the 2025 season. A return to Columbus in scarlet and gray would have made for a neat ending, but the buzz now points in a different direction.
NFL insider Tom Pelissero said on The Bill Simmons Podcast, "Arch could transfer," and added, "I texted one person who's known Arch for a long time, and I said, 'Where do you see Arch in 2027,' and his response was, 'Ole Miss.'"
That’s still rumor territory, but it doesn’t sound like Big Ten country is the likeliest destination if Manning does move on from Texas.
If Ohio State misses on those splashier names, Minnesota quarterback Drake Lindsey may be the cleaner target. The Golden Gophers may be improving under P.J.
Fleck, but they may not be able to outbid a program like Ohio State for an emerging quarterback. From a scheme standpoint, Lindsey looks like a strong match for Arthur Smith’s offense, and he’s exactly the kind of veteran Mark Pantoni and the Buckeyes should have on the radar if Sayin is unavailable - or if he never returns and instead heads toward the NFL.
For now, Ohio State’s transfer quarterback board looks awfully thin. Two of the biggest names may already be off it.
In Other News...
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Ole Miss Let A Statement Win Slip Away And Paid For It
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For Ole Miss, the drop is less about the number next to its name and more about what it surrendered in a game that could have changed its standing nationally. Miami stayed at No. 1, while Utah and UCLA kept their perfect records intact, but the Rebels are left looking at a missed chance to join that upper tier and wondering how much ground they can still make back. [Read more 🡒]