There is no quarterback competition in Columbus, Ohio. Julian Sayin has been the locked-in QB1 since the moment Will Howard left the Buckeyes for the NFL. Behind Sayin, though, is far from a clear picture in the worst-case scenario of the returning Heisman candidate getting injured.
Land-Grant Holy Land's Michael Citro sees Maryland Terrapins transfer Justyn Martin as the likelier emergency fill-in option for Arthur Smith and Co. this season than prized redshirt sophomore Tavien St. Clair.
"If Sayin can avoid taking hits or getting injured in 2026, Ohio State will again feature one of the best quarterbacks in all of college football. If not, the backups will suddenly become far more important than anyone anticipated. Prize prospect St. Clair is the likely next man up, although for a short-term fix, such as seeing out a game, the Buckeyes could turn to the more experienced Martin," Citro wrote.
"What St. Clair lacks in experience, he makes up for in talent, but it’ll be up to Day, Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith, and Quarterbacks Coach Billy Fessler to get the sophomore comfortable in the offense and up to game speed. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound St. Clair is obviously built much differently than Sayin."
Ohio State must satiate Tavien St. Clair somehow to keep him for 2027
Every underclassman backup QB in the country with a blue-chip pedigree is a target for future portal poaching. St. Clair may end up being the top QB on the market next year if he's not kept satisfied in Central Ohio.
Does being passed up on for emergency snaps qualify as being unsatisfied? It's unclear. St. Clair may have been told the deal about needing to wait two years before being handed the reins. What if Sayin doesn't leave, though? What if St. Clair needs to wait three years, a la Lincoln Kienholz? Does he have that time?
Probably not. Best-case scenario, Sayin has an NFL draft first-round-caliber campaign and moves on to the league, so St. Clair could step up. Worst-case scenario? Well, it's not so bad because the Buckeyes are still the Buckeyes, and Ryan Day has enough of a portfolio of great QBs passing through his program to sell another great QB on being next.