ESPN's Rece Davis spoke of the Ohio State Buckeyes' quarterback battle between Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz on the "College Gameday Podcast" as though it was wide open.
Davis spoke pessimistically about OSU's chances against the Texas Longhorns when the two face off in Week 1 of the 2025 season on August 30.
"You know, it’ll be fascinating with Ohio State also, whoever the quarterback is?…I wonder with how, you know, I say new coordinator – it is, Brian Hartline , but he’s, you know, been a brilliant receivers coach and Brian’s obviously been heavily involved in the offense. But, I wonder about Jeremiah Smith and the new quarterback and everything. With the new quarterback, what have you got in the bag to make sure that Jeremiah Smith doesn’t have to hit a go-ball or doesn’t have to hit a, you know, 18-yard dig in order to get a touch? And I know they’ve got that within their scheme and everything, but see if they spread it out, get him moving around a little bit, and then let the young quarterback, whichever one it is, see if he can get going a little bit," Davis said.
Davis also predicted a massive night from Arch Manning, one that'd prove why he's in the Heisman conversation, against the Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium.
“I will also build up – we’ll find out that Texas can answer the questions that people have about them, which the questions are how are they going to be on the offensive line and how are they going to be on the defensive line? And, I think the answer will be just fine…I think you’ll learn that,” said Davis. “I also think, to segue you into Arch? I think he told you or said widely yesterday that he hadn’t really done anything to deserve the attention he was getting and one game will not merit the amount of attention he will get as a result of this. But it will certainly be a giant step in that direction. I think you’ll find out why the anticipation is high.”
Urban Meyer, perhaps predictably, took a much different point of view from the FOX side of the college football media realm.
The former national championship head coach in Columbus warned Manning of the expectations he'll face carrying the Manning legacy into Texas's top-three showdown with Ohio State.
“A player with that name and that background and the expectations put on him, he’s going to have to play great,” Meyer said on “The Triple Option” podcast. “And he’s picking a tough team to play great at, in a tough environment.
“If he struggles, mark this down, there’s gonna be a lot of pressure on that player, unfair pressure. Because he is a hell of a player. Is he going to win the Heisman? I mean, those are big, big questions asked.”
Expectations are understandably high for Manning, Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian, and offensive coordinator Kyle Flood.
They're a complete unknown for Sayin, Kienholz, Brian Hartline, and Ryan Day.