On Saturday, Ohio State fans will get the only taste of Buckeye football in the seven-month gap between the end of the 2024 season and the start of the 2025 campaign.
It won't be the same spectacle as when the Buckeyes play Texas to open their season on Aug. 30. Still, with 18 starters to replace from Ohio State's 2024 national championship squad, the spring game is the capstone of a critical March and April for player development.
Position battles are still unfolding at quarterback, offensive line and safety, while the Buckeyes need to continue building depth at defensive tackle. Players like Brandon Inniss and C.J. Hicks are looking for spring game performances that serve as springboards toward breakout campaigns.
Position battles to monitor
Quarterback
The eyes of Buckeye Nation will be on Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz this Saturday, even if nothing will be finalized in their competition until the fall.
As the No. 1 quarterback in his recruiting class and the transfer Ryan Day and staff went after despite already having another highly-rated signal caller in said class, Air Noland, Sayin has been considered the favorite. But on Monday, when Day said the two were "neck-and-neck" in their competition, it was easier to believe than before spring practice started due to Kienholz's recent momentum.
“Maybe one of these guys jumps out ahead this week and really makes some separation, which, if they do, then they do. But we'll see. We'll kind of see where it goes,” Day said. “Somebody would have to make a significant move here on Tuesday and/or Saturday to really make that move to jump ahead.”
There's been agreement from pundits and students alike that Kienholz outperformed Sayin at Ohio State's Student Appreciation Day practice on April 5. Kienholz, an all-state performer in three different sports in high school, has some athletic tools and leadership ability that give him a legitimate bid for the starting gig.
The spring game will be just the latest piece of a massive puzzle of practices and performances the Buckeyes' coaching staff will evaluate in this battle between spring and preseason practices. But the confidence a big performance before a sizeable crowd could provide Sayin or Kienholz can't be understated.
Offensive line
Much like the quarterback battle, Student Appreciation Day shed further light on just how close the offensive line competition is. Unlike that position, however, things are a touch more complicated.
The list of front-five combinations utilized during the scrimmage is extensive. At least two players saw action with the ones at each position. Carson Hinzman might be the only fully guaranteed, locked-in starter based on those configurations, probably at center, although Joshua Padilla saw first-team action at that position while Hinzman bumped to guard as well.
Luke Montgomery, Austin Siereveld and Tegra Tshabola are Ohio State's three candidates at offensive guard should Hinzman be the starting center, but Siereveld is also now in the thick of the right tackle race after cross-training at both guard and tackle this spring. He was named an Iron Buckeye for his dedication in winter workouts, too.
"I think Austin's had a very good spring," Day said. "He's been playing multiple positions, and I think he's a true swing player who can do both guard and tackle, and he's shown to be able to do that. And a part of that is being able to handle it mentally, making that jump. And so he's been doing a good job of that."
Minnesota transfer Phillip Daniels and redshirt freshman Ian Moore will take their shot at the right tackle position, too, however. Both worked with the first team as Moore also got reps at left tackle, though Rice transfer Ethan Onianwa is the heavy favorite to start there.
Safety
It's a battle between Malik Hartford and Jaylen McClain to start alongside Caleb Downs in 2025, but the duo will likely be on the field together for most, if not all, of the Buckeyes' first-team safety reps as Downs continues working through a minor nagging injury.
Hartford's seen his stock soar entering his junior season after his usage dipped some from his freshman to sophomore years. He's been used not only as a deep safety but around the box and in the slot against some looks in spring practice.
“I think he's done a really good job of being consistent every day, training his body,” defensive coordinator Matt Patricia said on March 24. “He's improved a lot. His movement has improved, his strength has improved. And he's just a student of the game. He's in here all the time studying and learning.”
"He's just a student of the game. He's in here all the time studying and learning."– Matt Patricia on Malik Hartford
McClain's surge last season started in the spring game, where he made an interception that could have gone for a pick-six had the play not been blown dead and added three tackles. Both will continue making their case to start at strong safety on Saturday, but it's been evident this spring that both will have a role in this year's defense, regardless.
Players to watch
Brandon Inniss
Inniss feels like a dormant volcano ready to erupt at wide receiver in his junior year. He's hungry for that type of explosion, too. Inexperienced quarterbacks tend to target players who line up closer to the ball, so Inniss might get ample opportunity to showcase why he's a top breakout candidate playing the slot this year for the Buckeyes.
C.J. Hicks
C.J. Hicks is hoping that a position change will finally see him play a key role in Ohio State's defense.
Hicks is arguably the most interesting piece of Ohio State's defense entering 2025, at least in terms of what's unknown. Will his change from the linebacker to defensive end rooms to embrace an edge-rushing role unlock his five-star talent in his senior season? How much will he be used in Patricia's defense? He's confident he can flourish at his new spot, and the spring game is a massive chance to flash that potential.
James Peoples, Bo Jackson
Ohio State's running back room has an exciting mix of young talents to go with senior West Virginia transfer CJ Donaldson as the Buckeyes replace last year's tandem of TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins. Peoples is in line to play a tandem role with Donaldson, while Jackson is fast emerging behind the duo with an impressive spring.
Jason Moore, Tywone Malone
Peoples and Jackson are players to watch from a position of strength for Ohio State. This duo is one the Buckeyes need to see more from as they try to build depth at defensive tackle behind projected new starters Kayden McDonald and Eddrick Houston.
"There's been flashes," Day said of the next wave of DTs. "But in order for us to play defense like we did last year, we're going to need those guys to step up more than they have. I think, again, there's ability there. But consistently playing at a certain level is something that's a challenge that I know that Coach Johnson is going to be pushing these guys for over and over again. And we need these guys to step up in a big way."
Game info
- Kickoff is at noon on the Big Ten Network.
- The format of the spring game will be offense (Scarlet) vs. defense (Gray). The first few series will be "thud" tempo before switching to full contact.
- Offense will be scored traditionally, defense will receive six points for a touchdown, three points for a takeaway, three points for a three-and-out, two points for a sack and one point for forcing a punt.
- There will be field goals, punts and simulated kickoffs with the ball starting at the offense's own 35-yard line after any scores.
- The team will walk from the corner of Woody Hayes Drive and Archie Griffin Way, through Remembrance Park and into the stadium, starting at 10:30 a.m.
- The Ohio State athletic band will perform at halftime.
- General admission tickets are $8 and can be purchased here.
