Ryan Day will have a tough choice to make heading into the 2025 season. Will Howard is no longer with the team, and the situation demands a new passer to fill his spot. After a successful national championship-winning season, Day is expected to continue the momentum and defend the title.
Currently, the Buckeyes are in a comfortable spot, with top talents from across the country joining the program and a bunch of phenomenal transfers. However, uncertainties still loom around the QB room.
Josh Pate Makes His Pick for Ryan Day and OSU’s QB1
The Buckeyes wrapped up the 2024 season with a 14-2 record and won the national championship game on Jan 20. It finally ended the program’s 10-year drought when Urban Meyer and Co. won the title back in 2014.
This week, college football analyst Josh Pate shared his offseason predictions for Ohio State. According to him, Day will have Penn State as one of his strongest opponents and could likely face off against each other at the Big Ten Championship game in December.
“I don’t have them competing against last year’s version of themselves. They just have to compete against everyone in the Big Ten this upcoming year — that would be Oregon and Michigan and Penn State. I think they can hold their own there,” Pate said on his show.
Talking about the QB options, he mentioned that Day will have a tough choice to make, but most likely Alabama transfer Julian Sayin will suit up for the team. He could start for OSU and most likely will exhibit an impact-creating performance.
“I trust them at quarterback,” Pate explained. “They’re unknown. They’re unproven at quarterback. I think Julian Sayin is going to be a star in college football next year, so I am high on him. I trust the program,” he added while also complimenting Penn State for loading its roster and posing a serious threat to OSU’s ambitions.
“Penn State has the kind of vibe about them this year that Ohio State had last year. All those guys [Drew Allar, Nicholas Singleton, etc.] came back. They’re another year older and more experienced, proven at quarterback…proven at the championship level; they are not yet.”
KEEP READING: Way-Too-Early 2025-2026 College Football Playoff Prediction
While the playing roster is undergoing a major revamp, Day has also strengthened the coaching roster by promoting his assistant staff member for OC and naming Jim Knowles as the defensive coordinator.
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