Tavien St. Clair has not locked down Ohio State's No. 2 quarterback job, and that is the change hanging over the Buckeyes as they head into Saturday's opener against Ball State. What once looked like a straightforward path to the backup role has turned into a contest with Luke Fahey.
The timing makes it matter now. Julian Sayin is entering his second season as the starter, and Ohio State opens the college football season with its quarterback depth still unsettled behind him. Ryan Day said on Tuesday the staff would try to get both backup quarterbacks into the game if it can, then added, “We’ll just kinda see how the game goes.”
That leaves St. Clair in a different spot than the one many expected when he arrived as the No. 3 quarterback in 2025 high school recruiting class. In July, Manny Navarro of The Athletic wrote that St. Clair, who had taken only 13 snaps and attempted two passes in his college career, had the size and upside to become one of the country’s most intriguing backups. Navarro also wrote that he was in position to take over in 2027 if Sayin declares for the NFL Draft.
Fall camp changed the picture. St. Clair appeared to struggle, and he did not take the No. 2 spot. Instead, he is still fighting Fahey for the job behind Sayin, a development that undercuts the idea that the backup role was already his to lose.
That uncertainty matters because Ohio State is not dealing with a luxury problem. The starter is established, but the drop-off behind him is not settled, and the team could run into trouble if Sayin suffers an injury. Day's plan to see whether both quarterbacks can get reps on Saturday suggests the staff still wants a live look before deciding how to divide the backup work once the season starts.
