Eric Boggs
Ohio State’s search for a quarterback in the 2026 recruiting class is officially over. Head coach Ryan Day and quarterbacks coach Bill Fessler have secured their man in four-star California signal caller Luke Fahey, who committed to the Buckeyes on July 4. It’s a major step forward for the class, and while the road to this commitment wasn’t traditional, the end result should leave Buckeye fans feeling confident about the future of the quarterback room.
Fahey’s recruitment was unique. Typically, prospects don’t make official visits to Columbus without holding an offer, but Fahey made the trip from Mission Viejo, California on June 20 without one. The visit served as a mutual evaluation period—Day and Fessler wanted to see how Fahey fit, and Fahey was equally interested in how Ohio State operated. The meeting exceeded expectations on both sides, and by the end of his visit, Fahey had earned his offer. Less than two weeks later, he gave his verbal commitment, choosing Ohio State over Stanford and Indiana.
His commitment came at a critical time for the Buckeyes. Several of Ohio State’s top quarterback targets in the 2026 class had already committed elsewhere—Jared Curtis to Georgia, Faizon Brandon to Tennessee, Dia Bell to Texas, and Ryder Lyons to BYU. With those options off the board, the Buckeyes recalibrated and honed in on Fahey, who had been steadily rising up national recruiting rankings.
Fahey is currently ranked as the No. 355 overall prospect and the No. 23 quarterback in the class of 2026 by 247Sports’ composite rankings. However, he’s trending upward. He recently earned “Alpha Dog” honors from 247Sports at the South County Classic 7-on-7 event, where scouts praised his performance as “absolutely surgical.” Fahey’s junior year stats reflect that precision—he completed 76 percent of his passes for 1,638 yards and 17 touchdowns without a single interception, while also rushing for three more scores. And that was while splitting time with a 2025 three-star quarterback. As a full-time starter this fall, even bigger numbers are expected.
At 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, Fahey doesn’t fit the prototypical Big Ten quarterback mold in terms of size, but he makes up for it with accuracy, mobility, and a sharp football mind. He’s also a three-sport athlete, contributing in basketball and lacrosse, which speaks to his overall athleticism and competitive drive. Fahey has the tools to thrive in Ryan Day’s quarterback-friendly system, and he’ll have a familiar face waiting for him in Columbus—his former high school teammate, wide receiver and current Buckeye freshman Phillip Bell.
With his commitment, Fahey becomes the 20th member of Ohio State’s 2026 class and the latest in a growing line of California quarterbacks to head east to Columbus. He joins a lineage that includes C.J. Stroud, current Buckeye Julian Sayin, and 2027 commit Brady Edmunds. That pipeline has paid massive dividends in the Day era, and Fahey will look to continue that tradition.
Looking ahead, Fahey could be in for a competitive battle when he arrives. If Sayin wins the starting job this year and holds it through the 2026 season, Fahey will likely find himself in a three-man competition with Tavien St. Clair and Brady Edmunds to be Ohio State’s next starting quarterback. Regardless of how the depth chart shakes out, Buckeye fans can rest easy knowing that the future of the position remains in good hands.
