Ohio state Buckeye- The Ohio State football program has seen a number of players enter the transfer portal since it opened last Monday. Head coach Ryan Day typically expects around 15% of the roster to leave each year, but so far, the numbers have been lower than expected.

Recently, the Buckeyes lost two quarterbacks to the portal: Devin Brown and Air Noland. Brown will stay with the team through the College Football Playoff run before departing, while Noland has opted to leave immediately. Noland’s decision is more surprising given that he was a freshman and expected to compete for the starting job next season. Brown, on the other hand, had already realized his chances of being the starting quarterback were slim and is nearing the end of his eligibility, making his exit more understandable.

 

Noland’s transfer has clarified Ohio State’s quarterback situation moving forward. It’s clear the Buckeyes view Julian Sayin and Tavien St. Clair as their top options, with Sayin likely the front-runner. Lincoln Kienholz had also been ahead of Noland on the depth chart for much of the season. With Noland’s departure, Sayin, St. Clair, and Kienholz are now the only three scholarship quarterbacks on the roster, and Ohio State may need to add depth through the portal.

Looking ahead, the future starting quarterback will most likely be Sayin or St. Clair. However, regardless of who wins the job, they’ll need improved protection from the offensive line. Ohio State has yet to make significant moves in the transfer portal to address this area, and it’s becoming crucial for the team to strengthen its offensive line to support its quarterback next season.