The Ohio State Buckeyes Spring Game is set to roll out this Saturday. And while most eyes will be fixed on the offense, the biggest microscope will hover directly over the quarterback room. Ryan Day has three horses in the race. Lincoln Kienholz, the most experienced of the bunch; Julian Sayin, the five-star talent with sky-high expectations; and Tavien St. Clair, the true freshman still finding his legs. Coach Day confirmed this week that St. Clair is currently sitting at third in the pecking order, which only fuels the fire between Sayin and Kienholz for the QB1 job. But behind the scenes, the buzz isn’t exactly glowing—and a recent push by Day’s staff may hint at something deeper beneath the surface.

The Spring Game format is clear: The starters will get a stretch of reps under “thud” rules. Full speed but no takedowns, before the depth chart opens up and live tackling kicks in. It’ll be the cleanest look yet at who’s making a real case under pressure. However, according to Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr from Buckeyes TomOrrow Morning, the final spring practice didn’t do much to soothe the nerves of those watching closely. Julian Sayin, for all his natural gifts, struggled at times with the basics. “Julian Sayin at one point had back-to-back plays where he was trying to hand the ball off and the exchange was bad,” one insider shared.

“The ball ended up on the ground… then he’s running laps—punishment laps.” Those unforced errors speak volumes. The physical tools are obvious, but the mental sharpness? Still developing. And at Ohio State, where championships are expected—not hoped for—every misstep is amplified. Sayin wasn’t alone in his inconsistencies, which is precisely the concern. “It was Lincoln Kienholz today—it was like sometimes Lincoln’s good, sometimes he throws a bad pass,” an insider said. “Same with Julian, sometimes Julian’s good, sometimes he throws a bad pass. Same with Tavien St. Clair.” The word of the week? Inconsistency.

These aren’t just minor misfires; they’re patterns, and for a program as loaded as Ohio State, it’s a real issue. “You’re still sort of seeing the big mistake in one form or another from several of these guys,” the insider warned. And with the calendar inching closer to summer camp, there’s a growing sense that this competition could bleed into the fall—or worse, November. Kienholz, to his credit, flashed real moments of brilliance. There was a highlight-reel throw to wideout Mylan Graham in the back corner of the end zone with Aaron Scott draped in coverage. “He made some really nice throws,” the insider said. “He probably had the throw of the day.”

Kienholz’s throw showcased the arm talent that had the coaching staff buzzing during early spring sessions. But just as quickly, the pendulum swung. “Then he threw a pick-six to Jermaine Matthews,” the insider added, almost as if to emphasize how fragile momentum has been in this quarterback derby. One step forward, one pick-six back. The ceiling is visible, but so is the floor—and that seesaw performance is what’s keeping Ryan Day up at night.

What’s becoming increasingly clear is that Brian Hartline and Day aren’t just watching the highlight throws—they’re watching the in-between stuff. “You need to be able to make the routine plays routinely,” Hartline stressed. “And you need to not make the big mistake.” That second part may as well be the team’s QB mantra for the offseason. Talent isn’t the issue. Reliability is. And for a team that expects to walk into Ann Arbor and win, anything less than precision won’t cut it. It’s not enough to dazzle in one drive if you unravel the next. That’s what separates playoff teams from cautionary tales.

And so, with consistency still missing in action, the Buckeyes appear to be hedging their bets. Behind closed doors, sources say Ohio State’s staff has started pushing to land another QB, one whose projected NIL value clocks in at a hefty $863,000. That’s not just a contingency plan—that’s a wake-up call.

Ryan Day’s a star QB wish “almost” came true

Ryan Day isn’t shy about what he wants. He wants a star. And with total passing yards of 6,589 and 84 TDs – here enters Ryder Lyons, the five-star phenom from Folsom High School in California, who’s quickly becoming that guy in the 2026 recruiting cycle. Lyons isn’t just a hot name—he’s the No. 2 quarterback and No. 3 overall prospect in the nation, according to Rivals. And yeah, every top program wants him.

With 28 schools knocking on his door, the race is getting spicy. USC appears to be leading the charge, with Oregon and BYU hot on their heels. Lyons scored 3,578 yards by passing last season, with an impressive completion rate of 68%. But now, the OSU have entered the chat, and they’re not showing up just to window shop.

“The Buckeyes are swinging at the No. 1 recruit in California in On3 Industry five-star quarterback Ryder Lyons,” wrote On3’s Steve Wiltfong. While USC, Oregon, and BYU have “been setting the pace,” Ohio State is officially in that “next wave” of serious contenders.

So, can Coach Day pull off a California heist? The defending champs are aiming for the No. 1 recruiting class after the program’s recent surge. He’s got a track record with elite QBs, and Lyons fits the mold.