Ryan Day may have delivered the natty to OSU, but the pressure is already on to successfully defend that title. One of the biggest dilemmas facing the Buckeyes’ head coach is who will take over the starting quarterback duties. Second-year QB Julian Sayin is the obvious favorite, but Day has refused to name his preference for the role with Lincoln Kienholz in the hunt. There is good reason for Day to hold off on his decision. Why? Well, for one, the transfer portal opens Wednesday, and naming a starter now means a higher risk of your backup bolting for another school. Not to forget, there is an entire summer of workouts and fall camp to analyze the two options. On Saturday, both Sayin and Kienholz went through one of those pivotal tests in the spring day game in front of 40,136 fans. So, who came out on top?

Well, Day started with Kienholz, as he and Sayin alternated most of the first half, taking turns with the first-team offense on a pass-heavy day. Sayin came out strong, leading two quick touchdown drives, while Kienholz had a slower start before eventually guiding the offense to the end zone. Their numbers? Sayin completed 17 of 24 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown. Kienholz wasn’t bad as he went 12 of 18 for 158 yards and two TDs. But it appears Sayin is the one who caught Day’s attention.

“Lincoln settled down after the first drive or so, made some nice throws,” Day said. “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.” Sayin’s poise in the pocket and pinpoint throws to every part of the field gave him the edge over Kienholz in the quarterback competition. Based on this, it seems Sayin has the QB1 slot locked down, but there is a concern that Day touched upon.

Day and Ohio State typically favor quarterbacks who stand at least 6-foot-3. Will Howard measures 6′ 4″, just like Dwayne Haskins did, while Justin Fields, C.J. Stroud, and Kyle McCord all came in at 6’3″. Sayin? He stands at 6’1″, and that is where the challenge lies for him.

“That’s a part of it, when you’re not  6’ 4” like Will or Dwayne was or, even 6’3”, the way that Justin and CJ were. Kyle was about 6’3”. So, what does that mean? Well, you’re in the trees. You have to find passing lanes,” Day said while talking to the media after the spring game.

But should size matter when it comes to how Sayin performs? He has some mobility but isn’t known for his running ability. His strengths lie in a quick release and solid field vision, but good enough to keep the offense moving. Besides, Bryce Young and Kyler Murray are 5’10”, though they can run. Johnny Manziel is 6’0”. Fabulous in college, but struggled in the NFL. When it comes to the Buckeye alumnus Troy Smith, at 6’0”, he won the 2006 Heisman. Thus, Day will never allow Sayin to put up an average performance, banking on the excuse.

So, he boldly stated, “Does (Sayin’s size) affect how we call plays? Not really,” Day said. “There are certain things that are easier to do than others, but at the end of the day, there are a lot of guys his stature who are playing in the NFL and played a lot of high-level college football.”

So, it’s not quite about the height for Ryan Day. It’s about taking risks and giving one’s 100 percent. It’s not only that Sayin is short(ish), but his throwing mechanics lean more toward Bernie Kosar. Over his 12 career seasons, Kosar endured relentless hits. As per the estimation, the former Cleveland quarterback was sacked 250 times during his playing career.

Sayin showed improvement from last Saturday’s open scrimmage and may now hold the edge in the quarterback race heading into the offseason. But there is scope for improvement, and as mentioned earlier, Day might be happy to wait before making a decision. So, what’s the advice Day has for Sayin?

“When you’re not 6-4, you have to play big. That means your elbow has to be above your shoulder. We’re not allowed to get tipped balls (Sayin had one Saturday); that’s part of the deal when you’re a smaller quarterback,” Day pointed out.

Sayin uses a netting device in practice to help keep his elbow up, so his mechanics should continue to improve by the time OSU’s season opener against Texas rolls around. But it is not only the technical aspect that Sayin or Kienholz, for that matter, have to get right.

Being at OSU means bearing the weight of expectations. “It’s our job, and it’s my job, to make sure that they understand how hard it is to be the quarterback at Ohio State and the expectations,” Day said. “You are not allowed to lose a game. You’re not allowed to have a bad day. That’s just the way it is. But as we know, the rewards are endless.” The margin for error at OSU has always been thin, and with them entering the next season as defending champions, expect the pressure to rise.

Sayin understands it very well and knows that getting the QB1 role will only be the start of his journey under Day. While the head coach is yet to make a decision over his preferred QB option, the offensive coordinator is already impressing him.

Brian Hartline passed the first stage of Ryan Day’s test

Not just players, Ryan Day failed to lock the door for the coaches even after winning the national title. In February, their former offensive coordinator Chip Kelly left Columbus for a pro league gig with the Las Vegas Raiders. Day knew that time was running out. Instead of going on a search hunt outside the Buckeyes, the head coach decided to promote their wide receivers coach, Brian Hartline, to the offensive coordinator position, who is already making a loud noise. In that way, this year’s spring practice is the first time that Hartline is calling plays. Was he able to impress Day?

Definitely! The head coach told the media, “I think it’s good. I think even for him to do it for the first time out there was good for him. There’s some things in there that we gotta talk about, but overall, I think he had a good plan.” When it comes to Hartline’s efforts for the Buckeyes, there is no doubt. After all, it’s payback time for him. The coach played for the Scarlet and Gray from 2005 through 2008, and he has witnessed eight Big Ten titles. So, as Day no longer has to count plays from now on, he has a close watch on the coach.

“I thought he had a good rhythm today. I thought he had a good plan. Things moved pretty smoothly… but I was not on the headset on purpose. Because I just didn’t want that kind of distraction for him, and I thought he did a good job.”  Hartline was smart enough to soak up every piece of information he could from Ryan Day and Chip Kelly. However, he is yet to prove to the head coach by coaching up players like Jeremiah Smith and, more than anything else, designing a good scheme.