Ohio State’s quarterback search for 2027 may already be narrowing, and not in a way the Buckeyes would love.
With Julian Sayin’s throwing shoulder injury possibly closing out what could be his final college season, Ohio State may need a veteran answer if Luke Fahey or Tavien St. Clair isn’t ready to take over.
That makes the transfer market look important fast. It also makes the early chatter around some of the biggest names in the portal worth watching.
One of those names, Oregon State quarterback Braden Atkinson, may be trending toward staying put. Beavers receiver Jesse Legree announced Friday afternoon that he will be re-signing with Oregon State for the 2027 season, a move that may point to Atkinson being part of that future too.
Atkinson has put together a breakout season in Corvallis, which is why he immediately became a name people started linking to other programs. He also wouldn’t have been an ideal fit in Arthur Smith’s system anyway, even if the thought of his arm in Columbus had some appeal.
The other headline name is Arch Manning, and the rumor mill has him headed in a different direction entirely if he leaves Texas. Manning’s first full run as Texas’ QB1 came in Week 1 of the 2025 season, when the Longhorns lost 14-7 to Ohio State at the Shoe.
That made the idea of him eventually ending up in scarlet and gray an obvious storyline. But the current buzz says Ole Miss is the school to watch instead.
“Arch could transfer,” NFL insider Tom Pelissero said on The Bill Simmons Podcast. “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.'”
For now, that remains a rumor, but it doesn’t sound like Big Ten country is where the speculation is landing.
If Ohio State does need to dive into the portal, Minnesota quarterback Drake Lindsey looks like the cleanest fit. The Golden Gophers aren’t a major power, even with P.J.
Fleck having things pointed in the right direction, and they may not be able to win a bidding war for a rising quarterback. The Buckeyes, though, have already shown they can make that kind of move, much like when they landed Will Howard from Kansas State before the 2024 championship season.
Lindsey fits Arthur Smith’s offense on paper, and he’s the kind of veteran Mark Pantoni and company would need to monitor closely if Fahey or St. Clair aren’t ready, or if Sayin doesn’t return and instead heads toward the NFL. With Atkinson and Manning potentially off the board, Ohio State’s list of realistic options may have gotten a lot shorter very quickly.