A game that could have been a springboard for the Ohio State Buckeyes heading into next season turned into a nightmare as it seems the 14-3 loss to the Missouri Tigers in the Cotton Bowl will prompt more questions and concerns. Potentially, the biggest question will revolve around quarterback and whether or not the Buckeyes will be forced to dip into the transfer portal.
The first career start for sophomore quarterback Devin Brown did not go to plan. After serving as the backup for the regular season, Brown was forced into the role after Kyle McCord entered the NCAA transfer portal following the Buckeyes loss to the Michigan Wolverines.
After much optimism that Brown could be the next "guy" under center for the Buckeyes, the former four-star recruit managed to play just four drives and throw six passes before he was pulled due to an ankle injury.
This forced the Buckeyes to go from one inexperienced signal-caller to another, as true freshman Lincoln Kienholz came off the bench to finish the game. The former South Dakota native finished the game with just 86 yards after completing six of his 17 passes, as he presided over the worst offensive showing of the Ryan Day era.
While on the surface, it seems unfair to judge both Brown and Kienholz after just one game. It'd be irresponsible of Day and Co. not to, at the very least, look for other options through the transfer portal.
With a roster as talented as the one the Buckeyes have and an offensive system that has a proven track record of success under Day, as Saturday showed, bad quarterback play can be a real detriment.
As things currently stand, the Buckeyes' only addition this offseason to the quarterback room will be the arrival of five-star quarterback Air Noland. And while the Buckeyes hope he can develop into their next star quarterback, it is worth noting that under Day, Ohio State has yet to start a true freshman.
This makes the transfer portal look like an even more likely option for the Buckeyes, as they've already been linked with names like former Kansas State Wildcat Will Howard and Washington State's Cam Ward, both of whom are experienced starters.
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