Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Tavien St. Clair is presumably the team's future. He's just not OSU's immediate future.
Ahead of spring practice, Cleveland.com's Stefan Krajisnik reminded Buckeye Nation that any reps St. Clair gets won't be anything more than a sign that Ryan Day and Arthur Smith want to give the Bellefontaine product an extended look.
"If there’s a practice where Julian and Tavien split first team reps, our reaction is going to be, 'they’re giving Tavien some more opportunities.' It’s not going to be like, 'wow. This is 50 50. Both these guys have a chance to be the starting quarterback,'" Krajisnik said on the Buckeye Talk podcast.
This is consistent with Krajisnik's long-term view of the quarterback competition back in October, amid Julian Sayin becoming a Heisman candidate.
"To project ahead, St. Clair likely won’t start for Ohio State until the 2027 or 2028 season," Krajisnik wrote.
"Sayin is a redshirt-freshman who will be OSU’s starter next year, barring any surprises. He would then have a decision to make regarding the NFL after the 2026 season, which could open the door for St. Clair."
Tavien St. Clair's future in Columbus beyond 2026 not guaranteed
St. Clair is entering his second year in Columbus, but there's no guarantee he'd be willing to play a third in 2027. It's possible Sayin is off to the NFL after 2026, but that also isn't guaranteed. There's great money in wearing the Scarlet and Gray and being the team's starting QB.
St. Clair could find that out, but it's also possible he gets a better deal elsewhere. The USF Bulls, with Brian Hartline in charge, are an intriguing option. The two have experience and familiarity with each other.
Countless other schools would likely be interested in St. Clair if he were to test the transfer portal, which feels like a yearly free agent auction. If he keeps hearing that he is not a priority as long as Sayin is around, some school may work that into a successful pitch, accompanied by multiple commas on a contract offer.