Although the 2025 football season is still a few months away, teams are already actively recruiting for the 2026 class, and Ohio State is one of them. According to 247Sports, the Buckeyes hold the No. 3-ranked recruiting class for 2026.
Ohio State already has 13 commitments in place, but they have yet to secure a quarterback, although they’ve been linked with a few. But is quarterback a position they really need to address, or are they going to recruit for luxury?
Is Ohio State’s 2026 Quarterback Pursuit Necessary?
Several teams are recruiting quarterbacks, and all five-star QB prospects in the 2026 class have committed to different programs. As a matter of fact, 14 out of 18 QBs ranked in the ESPN 300 have committed to colleges. There are still four who are yet to make a decision.
Ohio State does not particularly need a quarterback in the 2026 class, but it appears they are trying to get one anyway. The Buckeyes are well stocked with young talent in the quarterback department, as they already have 2025 and 2027 commits. Julian Sayin is expected to start for the defending champions next season, while five-star 2025 signee Tavien St. Clair will play backup.
TAVIEN ST. CLAIR, THE NO. 1 PLAYER IN THE RIVALS250, HAS SIGNED WITH OHIO STATE 👏 pic.twitter.com/eWBPEp3LR5
— Rivals (@Rivals) December 4, 2024
Ohio State has also secured Brady Edmunds’s commitment for the 2027 class, meaning they are covered in that position for the immediate future. This raises questions about their pursuit of a signal-caller in the 2026 class.
Despite the available talents at quarterback, the Buckeyes still hosted Ryder Lyons (No. 50 in ESPN 300, No.5 pocket passer) and Bowe Bentley (No. 262 in ESPN 300, No. 6 dual-threat) for visits earlier this spring. Kayd Cuffman, who has already committed to Michigan State, was also spotted on campus with the Ohio State staff last month, which could mean that a flip is on the cards.
College football analyst Max Chadwick believes that Ohio State currently has one of the best quarterback departments in college football.
“Ohio State’s quarterback room is essentially the exact same as Alabama’s,” wrote Chadwick.
“Neither has any starting experience, but they each feature a pair of former five-star recruits along with a former four-star recruit. Redshirt freshman Julian Sayin is the favorite to start, and he was a top-10 overall recruit from the 2024 class and only trailed DJ Lagway among quarterbacks.”
KEEP READING: Julian Sayin Has The NFL Scouts Talking: Higher Ceiling Than Justin Fields
“True freshman Tavien St. Clair was also the No. 4 overall recruit from the 2025 cycle. Redshirt sophomore Lincoln Kienholz was a top-15 quarterback recruit from 2023 and has a 72.2 passing grade on 24 career dropbacks.”
It remains to be seen if the Buckeyes will add a quarterback from the 2026 class or stick to the talents they already have on the roster or committed.
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