Ohio State opens the season with a glorified tune-up game against Ball State on Saturday. It's not as though the team's starters figure to be tested much against the Cardinals. In that sense, the value in this game lies in the backups.
Specifically, the most valuable question to be answered is whether Tavien St. Clair or Luke Fahey could establish themselves as a clearer successor to Julian Sayin for the 2027 season.
Ryan Day recently revealed that both backup quarterbacks are tabbed to get reps against Ball State at the "Shoe" if the game is going according to the Buckeyes' script.
"We're going to let those guys continue to split reps with the twos this week and see how the week goes," Day said this week. "And if we can get them both reps in the game, we'll try to do that. We'll just kind of see how the game goes."
Luke Fahey has played his way into QB2 consideration
Fahey has been a stud this offseason, outplaying St. Clair in fall camp and throwing the team's future into uncertainty.
In particular, Day has been impressed with Fahey's work ethic, though he likes the football traits of the former Mission Viejo High School star as well. Day claimed that Fahey "knows time, situation, score, and has good awareness."
Fahey was efficient in CIF Southern Section Division 1 football, having thrown just three interceptions per year during his three years as a starter. If those skills translate to the Big Ten, Fahey may be the most sensible future option under center.
Tavien St. Clair cannot be surpassed as the future of the team at QB
St. Clair was supposed to be a Pat Mahomes-caliber superstar signal-caller. It's a damning sign that he's being outplayed by a true freshman who was trending to have a Lincoln Kienholz-like trajectory as a backup.
With all the physical tools in the world, St. Clair had the potential to be even better than Sayin. St. Clair could've been the heir to C.J. Stroud under Day and Co. If he loses the QB1 job to Fahey for next year and beyond, he may not even stay in Columbus at all.
It's too early to be talking transfers, but the quarterback position is one that teams pay a premium for. St. Clair's skill set is one that teams will convince themselves can change their fortunes. St. Clair will have a massive market if he isn't destined to become a starter for OSU.
Day will give St. Clair the chance to regain his footing in the room, though he will be giving that same chance to Fahey to continue his improbable underdog run to the QB2 spot.
The results of the ongoing QB2 competition for this year will undoubtedly change the future outlook of this program. Luckily, Day has not gotten the position wrong yet.
Over the next few weeks, when the competition is mostly light compared to the rest of the season, we'll get a chance to see who has what it takes to grab the baton from Sayin in 2027.
May the best underclassman quarterback win.
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