Before every season, the goal is to have solidified starters before the first game. The Ohio State football program has done a pretty good job of figuring that out at most key positions on the roster. Julian Sayin has a stranglehold on the starting quarterback job after a couple of weeks.
The offensive line had some questions to start the year, but those seemed to have passed. Ethan Onianwa clearly looks like a backup lineman at best, which is a major disappointment considering the amount of money they paid to get him. Regardless, that front five looks set.
However, there is one position that Ryan Day is considering a change at, and it happens to be on special teams. While talking to the media on Thursday night, Day mentioned he is monitoring the situation at punter as the Ohio State Buckeyes head into Week 3.
The Ohio State football team might make a change at punter
Ryan Day didn't guarantee the Ohio State football team will keep Joe McGuire as the starting punter. He mentioned that Nick McLarty was hitting some bombs during practice, and that might help propel him ahead of McGuire. Right now, though, McGuire will stay as the starter.
Nick McLarty was the punter for Ohio State’s lone punt against Grambling State. Day said Wednesday that Joe McGuire is still the Buckeyes’ starter at the position.
— Chase Brown (@chaseabrown__) September 10, 2025
“Joey is the starter, but Nick is making progress," Day said. “He hit some bombs yesterday, so we’ll keep a close…
McLarty was the only one who punted for the Buckeyes against Grambling State. McGuire wasn't very impressive against Texas, although his final punt may have been one of the best punts he's had in his career. Punting has been a problem that Ohio State hasn't been able to solve for the last few years.
The good news is that Ohio State's offense is so explosive that it shouldn't need to punt the ball very often. Sayin has made sure of that. Still, the team needs to have some better punting results when they do have to flip the field against one of the better opponents on their schedule.
Ohio State has about a month to figure it out. They take on Illinois in Champaign on October 11th, and that is going to be the next big test for them. That means that Day has until then to really figure out who is going to be the punter that they rely on.
Whether that's McGuire or McLarty, Ohio State has to figure out who gives them the best chance to win games. That's what the next three or four games will be about for both of the punters.