Whoever wins Ohio State's quarterback competition won't get an easy first test.
The Buckeyes take on Texas in Week 1.
That makes the QB battle that much more important. OSU needs to be up to speed right off the bat.
The defending national champs relied on Will Howard at QB last year, but he's now in the NFL with the Steelers.
The competition is between Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz. Neither have started a college game.
Sayin was a highly touted recruit who began his college career at Alabama but transferred after Nick Saban retired.
Kienholz has spent two seasons buried on the Buckeyes' depth chart before this one.
“We’re going to put them in as many competitive situations as we possibly can to figure out who handles that the best,” coach Ryan Day said on the Big Ten Network. "We’ve got to be on point Week 1. We can’t be messing around.”
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Both players have their positives, Day said.
“Julian certainly can get the ball out quickly. He’s had a great offseason. He’s intelligent,” Day said. “He’s very competitive, he’s got good athleticism, he’s accurate. Lincoln is just an incredible athlete. Pick a sport and he can do it.”
Day's summary: It'll be a "fierce competition."
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Top wide receiver Jeremiah Smith spoke at Big Ten Media Days about the duo, too.
“Their leadership, the way they take command in the huddle,” Smith said. “Both kind of the same way to me. They’re both athletic, both can run.”
This is one of the most important position battles in college football. Ohio State is hoping to defend its national title. The quarterback winner will need to be ready.
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