The Ohio State Buckeyes are still working through who will be their starting quarterback in 2025.
As the competition between Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz heats up, head coach Ryan Day sees similarities between their battle and one he’s previously overseen.
"It's similar to Dwayne Haskins and Joe Burrow in terms of skill set," Day said. "Nothing is exactly the same. Ultimately, it will come down to how they perform on the field."
Stylistically, Sayin’s throwing motion has drawn comparisons to Haskins’ while Kienholz appears to have a similar athletic profile to Burrow.
Haskins and Burrow squared off in 2018. Haskins would end up winning the job, prompting Burrow’s decision to transfer to LSU. He would eventually go on to lead the Tigers to a national championship in 2019, winning the Heisman Trophy along the way.
Haskins, on the other hand, has a historic 2018 campaign, being named the MVP of both the Big Ten championship game and the Rose Bowl
Both quarterbacks wound up being drafted in the first round of their respective draft classes, with Burrow being the No. 1 pick in 2020. So, the expectations are clearly high for both Sayin and Kienholz.
Still, Day is hesitant to name a starter, saying he doesn’t know when he will reach a final verdict.
"Not going to predict when we're going to make the decision," Day said. "But we're getting more and more information. Not going to announce anything right now; gonna let it play out."
Whoever wins the starting spot will have their hands full right away. Not only is there the daunting pressure of living up to the standard of an Ohio State quarterback, but the No. 3 ranked Buckeyes open their season Aug. 30 with a matchup with the preseason No. 1 team in the country, the Texas Longhorns.