When C.J. Stroud declared for the NFL draft in January, a competition to become the Buckeyes' next QB1 started for Kyle McCord and Devin Brown.
When Ryan Day was asked to name his backup quarterback at Big Ten Media Days on Wednesday, the fifth-year Ohio State head coach laughed.
"That's good," Day said. The trick question didn't fool him.
Still, he provided valuable information into the battle between McCord and Brown, which remains unsettled – for now. After expressing pride in the early development of freshman Lincoln Kienholz and graduate Tristan Gebbia, whom he calls "another coach" in the position room, Day explained that McCord and Brown have work to do before either would be named Ohio State's next starting quarterback.
"This is the most depth we have had in a long time at the quarterback position, which will allow us to do some stuff we haven't done in the past," Day said. "Devin and Kyle, they both had very good summers, they both have shown leadership and (strength coach) Mick (Marotti) has really put them in positions to do that. Now, it's time to put it on the field. We obviously would like someone to emerge quickly, but we will have to see when we get on the field."
If a starter does not emerge quickly – or even before Ohio State's season opener at Indiana on Sept. 2 – Day said he wouldn't rule out the possibility of the program's quarterback competition extending into the early weeks of the season.
"In the last seven years, we've been in this situation quite a few times at Ohio State, not knowing who would be the quarterback," Day said. "You had a new one with Dwayne (Haskins), a new one with Justin (Fields) and a new one with C.J. (Stroud), and here we are again. When you go into these situations, you would like to see someone emerge in camp... like it did with C.J., Justin and Dwayne, but if that doesn't happen, then maybe that is the case. We will have to evaluate it from there."
Ohio State's preseason camp starts next week on Aug. 3, so the team will have one month until its battle with Indiana in Bloomington. The Buckeyes will return to Columbus for its home matchups with Youngstown State and Western Kentucky. While the Buckeyes' quarterback competition could feasibly extend into those three games – ones in which ESPN's Football Power Index offers Ohio State at least a 98% chance to win – Ohio State will wrap up its nonconference schedule on the road against Notre Dame.
A perennial top-25 program, the Irish will undoubtedly be a more formidable opponent for the Buckeyes, especially with Wake Forest transfer quarterback Sam Hartman as the team's new leader on offense. That said, Day won't close the door on Ohio State's quarterback competition continuing past August, but it remains to be seen how long that battle will last once the 2023 season begins.
"We will see," Day said. "I know we have to win that first game on the road. We will do everything we can and do what is right for Ohio State. I am excited to see these guys compete when we put it on the field."
