(Photo credit: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

With the defense of their national title beginning in just over three weeks, the Ohio State Buckeyes have yet to determine who will be under center when they host Texas on August 30.

Sophomore Julian Sayin and junior Lincoln Kienholz are the prime competitors for the job left open by the departure of Will Howard.

Howard, who transferred from Kansas State and led the Buckeyes to their sixth national championship in January, is now a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

'The competition continues,' head coach Ryan Day said. 'They both have had good moments and moments where they're growing. I will say I've been pleased with the progress. It's going to go right down to the wire.

'The positives of having a competition is that you know every day you got to bring it. The guys are always on edge, they're uncomfortable, they're working at it. I think that's healthy for the entire building.'

Sayin, a native of Carlsbad, Calif., got into four games last season, completing 5-of-12 passes for 84 yards, including a touchdown in an early rout of Western Michigan.

Keinholz did not play in 2024, but got into three games in 2023, including OSU's 14-3 Cotton Bowl loss to Missouri. The Pierre, S.D. native struggled in that outing, completing only 6-of-17 attempts for 86 yards and no touchdowns.

Freshman Tavien St. Clair is technically in the competition, but the early enrollee is a long shot to earn the starting role.

Sayin has the better pedigree and is regarded as a slight favorite to line up against the Longhorns. He was the top-rated quarterback of the class of 2024 and enrolled at Alabama when Nick Saban retired. He entered the transfer portal in the spring of 2024 and wound up in Columbus.

But Kienholz made great strides this offseason and earned one of eight Iron Buckeye awards, which goes to players who excel in offseason training and workouts.

'This is moving week,' said Day. 'We want to have our identity, and it doesn't need to be in stone, but the players can tell us what we're doing and what our identity is coming out of this week.'

--Field Level Media