Ohio State's quarterback competition between Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz remains close after the first week of preseason practices

Sayin ranked as the No. 6 recruit in the 2024 class, and No. 1 quarterback in the country according to 247Sports' Composite Rankings. He ended up at Ohio State after transferring from Alabama following Nick Saban's sudden retirement.

Sayin, a former five-star recruit and the No. 3 quarterback in the 2024 signing class, originally enrolled at Alabama but transferred to Ohio State after Nick Saban's retirement. Kienholz was a four-star prospect in the Buckeyes' 2023 class, and he was the No. 11 quarterback in that cycle, per the 247Sports rankings.