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The Ohio State Buckeyes have been spoiled at the quarterback position in recent years, but that may not be the case in 2023.
Ohio State was down to its third quarterback when Cardale Jones led the Buckeyes to the 2015 national championship.
J.T. Barrett then starred in two years as the OSU started, followed by three straight first-round NFL Draft picks in Dwayne Haskins, Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud.
But with Stroud gone, head coach Ryan Day had a hole to fill.
Former five-star recruit Kyle McCord entered the offseason as the favorite to take the job. McCord is a junior and has appeared in 12 games in his career, including a star against Akron in 2021.
But he isn’t going unchallenged.
Redshirt freshman Devin Brown, who was an elite recruit in his own right, is also challenging for the position. Though Brown missed much of spring practice after finger surgery.
With less than two weeks until Ohio State begins its season against Big Ten foe Indiana, it appears neither quarterback has separated himself from the other.
No starting quarterback announcement yet. Ryan Day said neither Kyle McCord nor Devin Brown has won or lost the job yet. “Our staff feels confident with both of them.” He said he asked the staff this weekend who they thought should start, and it was “split right down the middle.”
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) August 21, 2023
“As honestly as I can say it there’s not one that has won the job there’s not one that lost the job,” Day told media members on Monday.
This didn’t set well with Buckeyes fans who were hoping that either McCord or Brown would take the position by the horns.
“McCord will start with Brown as the red zone quarterback, what could go wrong,” Twitter user @TimShoemaker posited.
McCord will start with Brown as the red zone quarterback, what could go wrong https://t.co/QWLNIe1BSK
— Tim Shoemaker (@TimShoemaker) August 21, 2023
“That’s always troubling,” another fan tweeted.
https://twitter.com/JJT_Journalist/status/1693665310849614105?s=20
This is not good. Neither are good enough if no one has won the job yet. https://t.co/5PCtA9ywwG
— Alan Martinez (@A_Mart6) August 21, 2023
If you have 2 quarterbacks… https://t.co/5pqNRuHQrZ
— KD 🏁🏁 (@smokeylaroyjr) August 21, 2023
Though not all hope is lost. One fan aptly pointed out that Ohio State’s biggest rival, Michigan, faced a similar situation a year ago and still one the Big Ten and made the College Football Playoff.
Reminder that just last year, Michigan decided their QB controversy on the field in their first two games, and then they won the Big Ten championship with nowhere near the WR talent Ohio State has. It's going to be fine. https://t.co/7LSwP690oQ
— Steven Hoying (@StevenHoying) August 21, 2023
The Buckeyes have an embarrassment of riches on offense and will likely be one of the best offenses in the nation with either McCord or Brown. But it’s still a surprise this much indecision so close to the season.