Underdog Ohio State QB on 2025 starting battle against 5-star Julian Sayin: 'I can win it'

The Ohio State Buckeyes are already set to lose Will Howard, Air Noland, and Devin Brown to the NFL and transfer portal, so the thought of losing another quarterback would create another roster need. Even with 2024 5-star Julian Sayin and 2025 5-star Tavien St. Clair looking like the heir apparent, the Buckeyes need competition and bodies.

Lincoln Kienholz could've shied away from the competition and transferred out, but the fourth-string quarterback is believing in himself entering the offseason. 

“I don’t plan on leaving...I haven’t really gotten a huge opportunity to show myself,” Kienholz said, “and I feel like this coming year could be a big year for me...I think I can win it. I’m pretty versatile. I can throw. I can run. There’s just a lot of things I can do at the quarterback spot.”

Only a redshirt freshman, Kienholz has a limited on-field resume to work off. He saw action in two games this past year, though he made no pass attempts. 

His entire career total of 22 pass attempts occurred last season, primarily during a loss to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl, where he replaced Devin Brown and completed 6 of 17 passes for 86 yards.

If he decides to change his mind, he has until five days after the Buckeyes’ final playoff game to enter the transfer portal, and the winter window will be open for teams that advance further in the postseason.

After discussions with coaches, Kienholz indicated a strong desire to stay at Ohio State and compete for the starting position when spring practice begins.

Sayin, the top quarterback recruit in the 2024 recruiting class and who has been closely following Brown for the backup role, is considered the frontrunner to follow Howard.

Kienholz, however, presents an intriguing skill set as a former three-sport athlete in high school in South Dakota, where he also played basketball and baseball.

As the Buckeyes prepare for the Rose Bowl, a quarterfinal in the College Football Playoff, Kienholz has acted as the scout team quarterback, simulating Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel.

Kienholz has also noted that there is a second transfer window in April after spring practice.

“If this spring doesn’t work out for me,” Kienholz said, “I might have to go somewhere else, but that’s not really what I’m thinking about.”