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Ohio State Football: McCord proves he’s not the guy

By Frank Teriaca

Nov 18, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Kyle McCord (6) looks at a replay on the scoreboard behind head coach Ryan Day during the NCAA football game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Ohio Stadium.
Nov 18, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Kyle McCord (6) looks at a replay on the scoreboard behind head coach Ryan Day during the NCAA football game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Ohio Stadium. /
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The Ohio State football team is losing its starting quarterback as Kyle McCord has entered the transfer portal. He just proved that he’s not the guy for OSU.

Kyle McCord just made the quarterback decision a whole lot easier for the Ohio State football program. McCord has entered the transfer portal and will be playing elsewhere next season. Either Devin Brown or Lincoln Kienholz will start against Missouri in the Cotton Bowl at the end of December.

I have to say I’m very surprised by this. McCord seemed to be a guy who didn’t shy away from competition during his Ohio State tenure, opting to stay with the program and sit behind C.J. Stroud for two seasons. When his opportunity came last offseason, he took advantage and won the starting job.

It has to be assumed that Ryan Day told McCord that he would be competing again for the job. Whether it be from Devin Brown, Lincoln Kienholz, Air Noland, or another portal player. And for McCord, who had a very solid season in throwing for over 3,000 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2023, that was enough to make him want to play elsewhere.

Backing down from competition when he’s the incumbent starter makes me question McCord’s fight and toughness. Being quarterback at Ohio State is not somebody’s right. You must earn it. And McCord did not want to go out, play a great Cotton Bowl game, and earn the job heading into the offseason.

It’s disappointing, to say the least. But at least Ohio State and Ryan Day have some clarity on the position moving into the offseason. Maybe Ohio State will let Brown and Kienholz battle it out. Maybe they bring in a multi-year starter like Dante Moore, or Cameron Ward, or wait on Maalik Murphy at Texas. Maybe they bring in a one-year starter like DJ Uiagalelei and let Air Noland learn for a season before taking over in 2025.

Next. Grading the 2023 Buckeye coaching staff. dark

Many options are on the table for Ryan Day and this Buckeye staff. But one thing is certain. Kyle McCord just proved that he is not worthy of being a quarterback at a school like Ohio State.

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