Eric Boggs
In the ever-evolving conversation surrounding Ohio State’s quarterback lineage, a recent social media post by ESPN contributor Sam Block sparked heated debate—and for good reason. Block listed Joe Burrow, Justin Fields, C.J. Stroud, Quinn Ewers, Kyle McCord, and Will Howard as proof that “Ohio State is the new QBU.” For many within Buckeye Nation, including those behind The OHIO Podcast, this take didn’t just miss the mark—it obliterated the target altogether.
Let’s be clear: there’s a right way and a wrong way to measure quarterback lineage. Buckeye fans pride themselves not just on who touched down in Columbus but who represented the Scarlet and Gray on the field. According to The OHIO Podcast, the only quarterbacks on that list who Ohio State can claim without hesitation are Justin Fields, C.J. Stroud, and now, Will Howard.
The inclusion of Joe Burrow as a Buckeye quarterback feels disingenuous to many. Burrow, though an Ohio State graduate, never started a game for the Buckeyes. He transferred to LSU and became a Heisman Trophy winner and national champion there, not in Columbus. More importantly, as the podcast emphasized, claiming Burrow disrespects the legacy of the late Dwayne Haskins, who beat Burrow out for the starting role in 2018. That decision, made by a coaching staff with far more quarterback acumen than any fan or media figure, ultimately led Burrow to transfer. While his talent was undeniable, Burrow’s breakout came under Coach Ed Orgeron, not Ryan Day.
Then there’s Quinn Ewers—a curious inclusion to say the least. Ewers’ stint at Ohio State amounted to little more than a redshirt cup of coffee. He reclassified, joined the Buckeyes early, collected NIL checks, and transferred to Texas, where he became a star. As The OHIO Podcast aptly points out, nobody in Athens is claiming Fields, so why should Buckeye fans claim Ewers? If we’re being intellectually honest, Ewers is a Longhorn.
Kyle McCord’s inclusion is also contentious. While he did start an entire season in Columbus, he transferred to Syracuse following a less-than-stellar 2023 campaign. According to The OHIO Podcast, when McCord introduces himself on an NFL broadcast, he’ll say “Syracuse,” not “Ohio State.” That public declaration matters. That’s how players want to be remembered, and it reflects the program they credit for launching their careers.
Meanwhile, Will Howard, despite spending most of his college career at Kansas State, finds himself in a unique position. After transferring to Ohio State and leading the Buckeyes to a national title, his most defining college moment came in Columbus. The expectation is that Howard, when spotlighted in the NFL, will credit Ohio State. And in doing so, he becomes ours.
That’s the crux of this entire debate: identity through legacy. Where a quarterback finishes his college career, not where he starts — that’s the school that gets to hang their hat on his success. Fields and Stroud? Without question, Buckeyes. Will Howard? After delivering a national championship, he’s earned the Scarlet and Gray. But Burrow, Ewers, and McCord? Their true legacies live elsewhere.
At the end of the day, fandom is about pride, and pride comes from authenticity. Ohio State has had no shortage of elite quarterback play under Ryan Day. We don’t need to claim players who chose to build their legends somewhere else. Because when Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud stare into the Sunday Night Football camera and say, “from the Ohio State University,” that’s all the proof we need that QBU runs through Columbus—with the right quarterbacks leading the way.
