Ohio State football: Quarterback battle in 2024 shaping up to be a mess

The Ohio State football team scored just three points against Missouri in the Cotton Bowl. You read that right. Three. After having a month to prepare for the game, that's all they could muster. Ryan Day needs to be held accountable for that, but there are other issues afoot.

What we saw on Friday night does not inspire confidence in Ohio State's quarterback future next season. Neither Devin Brown nor Lincoln Kienholz looked like they were good enough to start anywhere, let alone one of the premier programs in the country.

Brown got opportunities earlier in the year to show what he could do. He didn't look that great in games against IU or Youngstown State. After that, he was relegated to a Tate Martell-type role against Purdue and Penn State before hurting his ankle.

Brown finished with just 20 yards against Missouri before hurting his ankle again. He looked unprepared and locked onto his first read every time he dropped back. He didn't look like someone who is ready to be the leader of a big-time program.

Kienholz looked arguably worse. He didn't have a single throw where his feet were set. The only reason he had more passing yards than Brown is because he played for three full quarters. He looked like a deer in the headlights and certainly didn't look ready to be the starter.

Ohio State has just one other option on its 2024 roster as of right now and that is true freshman Air Noland. I have been advocating for him to get the starting job since we learned that Kyle McCord would be transferring. After watching the Cotton Bowl, he absolutely needs to start.

There have been rumors that the Ohio State football team will be taking Will Howard as a QB from the transfer portal. He's not very good either, but he's better than either guy we saw on the field on Friday night.

If this is the state of the quarterback room, the 2024 season is going to be rough.