Ryan Day got his hands on the coveted national championship trophy in 2024. Ryan Day’s Buckeyes had a very jumpy 2024 season, with high expectations to which justice was done. Ohio State started strong at 5-0 but stumbled in a close loss to Oregon, leading fans to doubt Day’s coaching. Then came the loss against Michigan. However, they fought back to stay in the running, like a determined squirrel rising from the ashes.

Now, heading into the 2025 season, Ohio State has lost a chunk of its seniors to the pros. Still, there is a lot to look forward to. A new defensive coordinator, a new QB1, and, of course, gems like Jeremiah Smith. The season may be a few months away, but the foundations are built in practices, especially spring ball. Will Ryan Day’s Buckeyes triumph, or will they succumb to the game’s pressures?

JR of The Big Ten Huddle highlighted a major issue in Ohio State’s interior defensive line during their spring game. “As somebody who runs a Big Ten channel, my job is not to, you know, praise one team the entire time. It’s also looking for deficiencies, and Ohio State has a major deficiency in the interior depth of their defensive line.”

The program has lost a chunk of its defensive stalwarts. They’ll miss the services of DLs Ty Hamilton, Jack Sawyer, JT Tuimoloau, and Tyleik Williams. For now, the interior of the D-line relies on Kayden McDonald and Eddrick Houston. The latter played as a DE in 2024. However, the depth is a serious concern as both Will Smith Jr. and Jason Moore, the backups, are going to be redshirt sophomores.

“You lose Kayden McDonald and Eddrick Houston, and if a team runs tempo against you, they are going to run the ball up the gun all day long,” JR added. It’s not just the analyst who has identified the issue. Coach Day was asked about whether the program is looking at the portal for D-line additions. “I think we’ve gotta take a hard look at it,” he said.

While Ryan Day is busy looking through transfer portals to rectify his defensive line. Second-year athlete Julian Saying faces very stiff competition with Lincoln Kienholz for the quarterback role. The final Saturday of spring proved to be the decisive factor for both players.

Julian Sayin: The Chosen One or the Overburdened One

With the transfer portal opening this Wednesday, Ryan Day is putting a hold on naming Ohio State’squarterback.. Although Julian Sayin is a favorite, Day wants to keep his options open by including Lincoln Kienholz in the mix. 

“Lincoln settled down after the first drive or so, made some nice throws, but I thought Julian, for the most part, early on, was in rhythm and moved the team down the field for a couple touchdowns, which was good, made some nice throws,” Ryan Day said after the latest iteration of spring ball.

In the Ohio State’s spring game, Julian completed 17 of 24 passes for 175 yards and three touchdowns. Sayin led scoring drives with maestro-like precision, staying calm under pressure and thrilling fans with plays like his red-zone connection with Max LeBlanc, sparking Heisman buzz among analysts.

Lincoln Kienholz, an unexpected standout, shone with 12 of 18 passes for 158 yards. His two impressive touchdowns included a 51-yard catch-and-run by Mylan Graham and a wide-open reception by Sam Williams-Dixon that left the defense puzzled.

Ryan Day’s quarterback competition is like a reality TV cliffhanger: Sayin and Kienholz are in a gripping battle to lead Ohio State. Day’s approach is to let them “compete their tails off,” adding drama to the mix. While Sayin leads, Kienholz’s underdog charm keeps fans intrigued as tension mounts under Day’s direction.