Eric Boggs
On a crisp and sunny afternoon in Columbus, the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes gave fans their first real look at the future of the program during the annual spring game. The offense, playing as the Scarlet team, took on the Gray defense in a spirited intrasquad scrimmage that ended in a 50-31 win for the offense. While many starters saw limited action, all eyes were on the quarterback competition—and redshirt freshman Julian Sayin made a compelling case to lead the Buckeyes into the 2025 season.
Sayin, the former No. 1 quarterback in the 2024 recruiting class, showcased poise and precision, completing 17 of 24 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown. He led the offense to scores on each of his first three drives, commanding the huddle and reading the field with the maturity of a veteran. Fellow signal-caller Lincoln Kienholz also had a strong outing, finishing 12-of-18 for 158 yards and two touchdowns. His best moment came on a 51-yard touchdown connection with redshirt freshman wideout Mylan Graham, who broke tackles and sprinted downfield for the longest play of the game.
True freshman Tavien St. Clair rounded out the quarterback reps, going 11-for-15 for 116 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Despite the turnovers, St. Clair ended the scrimmage on a high note with a scoring pass to freshman Phillip Bell.
The Buckeye backfield is searching for its next stars with TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins no longer in the picture, and several young runners stepped up. Bo Jackson impressed with 88 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown, while Sam Williams-Dixon added 64 yards and a receiving touchdown. C.J. Donaldson, a transfer from West Virginia, scored on his first drive and showed early signs of being a valuable addition to Tony Alford’s room.
The receiving corps remains a loaded group, even with limited snaps from All-American Jeremiah Smith. Graham was the standout with 104 yards and a touchdown on four catches. Veterans like Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss contributed, while newcomers like Quincy Porter and tight end Nate Roberts made their presence felt. Purdue transfer Max Klare added a score, and Bell capped the day with a late touchdown grab.
On defense, the Gray team used a simplified playbook under new coordinator Matt Patricia. Though basic in scheme, the unit still managed to make plays. Logan George notched three sacks, and both Faheem Delane and walk-on Brenton “Inky” Jones picked off St. Clair. Linebacker C.J. Hicks added another sack as the unit showed flashes of its depth and athleticism.
Ryan Day, entering his seventh season at the helm, was generally pleased with the scrimmage. “It was a typical spring game,” he noted. “There were moments you felt good about one side of the ball, and then not so much the other. But we got a lot out of today. The quarterbacks settled in, the young guys found their rhythm, and it was great to play in front of a solid crowd.”
The 40,136 Buckeye fans in attendance also witnessed a celebratory moment between the first and second quarters as the 2024 national champions received their championship rings—three per player, one from the College Football Playoff for making and winning the title, and one from Ohio State commemorating the victory.
This scrimmage also marked the first game-like scenario with new offensive coordinator Brian Hartline calling plays. Hartline spent the first half in the booth and moved to the sideline in the second half. Day emphasized that the offense will be a collaborative effort this fall, and praised Hartline’s first outing in the play-calling role.
Seven players were unavailable due to injuries, including linebacker Garrett Stover and tight end Will Kacmarek, but Day assured the media that none are expected to miss significant summer time.
Looking ahead, the Buckeyes will finish their spring semester academically, enter offseason training in May, and begin full summer conditioning in June. Fall camp is slated to begin around August 1 as Ohio State gears up to defend its national title and reload for another championship run.
