Tension in Columbus as ESPN’s Greg McElroy Warns Ryan Day’s QB Decision Could Derail Ohio State’s 2025 Title Hopes
The pressure in Columbus has reached a fever pitch. Ohio State football enters the 2025 season with one of the most electrifying weapons in all of college football—5-star wide receiver phenom Jeremiah Smith, a game-breaking talent who has the tools to dominate Big Ten defenses and elevate any quarterback lucky enough to throw him the football.
Yet amid the rising expectations, one glaring question looms large over the Buckeyes’ national championship hopes: Who will start at quarterback? And perhaps more urgently—will Ryan Day make the right decision?
The quarterback battle is front and center in Columbus, but according to ESPN analyst and former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy, the wrong move under center could sabotage the Buckeyes’ 2025 campaign before it even starts.
“I’ll say this as clearly as possible,” McElroy said on his ESPN podcast. “Jeremiah Smith is a once-in-a-generation player. If Ryan Day picks the wrong quarterback to lead this offense, it’ll be a waste—not just of Smith’s talent, but of what could be Ohio State’s best roster since 2019. This team has national title upside. But not if the quarterback play holds it back.”
McElroy’s warning has sparked renewed debate among Buckeye fans and college football analysts alike. Smith, the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2024 class, is set to start his true freshman season with a reputation already bordering on legend. He was unstoppable at Chaminade-Madonna Prep in Florida and showed flashes of brilliance in spring camp. By all accounts, he’s ready.
But the quarterback room is anything but settled.
A Crowded Quarterback Room, a Crucial Choice
The Buckeyes are sorting through a trio of talented, but largely unproven quarterbacks:
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Devin Brown, a former 4-star recruit with elite arm talent but inconsistent performances when given the reins last season.
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Lincoln Kienholz, who saw limited action in 2024 but is praised for his poise, accuracy, and football IQ.
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Julian Sayin, a high-profile transfer from Alabama and former 5-star prospect who left Tuscaloosa seeking immediate playing time.
Ryan Day is no stranger to high-stakes quarterback decisions. Under his watch, Ohio State has produced names like Justin Fields, C.J. Stroud, and Dwayne Haskins. But after a disappointing 11-2 season in 2024—one that ended with a brutal loss to Michigan and no College Football Playoff berth—the margin for error is razor-thin.
Ohio State fans aren’t just looking for a good quarterback. They’re demanding greatness. And with Smith now in scarlet and gray, the call to pair him with a QB who can maximize his ability has never been louder.
“I don’t care who it is,” one anonymous Big Ten defensive coordinator told The Athletic this summer. “If Ohio State gets average quarterback play, Jeremiah Smith can still beat you. But if they hit on the right guy? Watch out. He’ll break every freshman receiving record.”
Smith’s Immediate Impact Already Evident
At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, Smith is a matchup nightmare. He has elite speed, advanced route-running polish, strong hands, and an uncanny knack for finding open space. Despite being just 18 years old, he looks like a seasoned pro. At Ohio State’s spring game, he hauled in five catches for 128 yards and a touchdown—leaving defenders trailing and the crowd roaring with every touch.
“He’s ready,” said wide receivers coach Brian Hartline. “Jeremiah doesn’t just have talent—he has the mental makeup, the work ethic, and the desire to be great. It’s not a question of whether he’ll contribute—it’s how much.”
Behind closed doors, the sentiment is clear: Smith could be one of the best to ever wear the uniform. But even a future first-round NFL pick needs someone to get him the ball. That’s where Ryan Day’s decision becomes critical.
A Legacy on the Line for Ryan Day
Day’s success with quarterbacks has been both a calling card and a crutch. When his hand-picked signal-callers thrived, he was praised as an offensive mastermind. But in big games—particularly against Michigan—his recent track record has been underwhelming.
Ohio State is 1-3 against Michigan under Day, and many in Buckeye Nation see 2025 as a make-or-break year. The pressure is immense.
Day has remained tight-lipped about who will start Week 1 against Southern Miss, but the competition is expected to bleed into fall camp. Whoever wins the job will have to navigate a brutal schedule that includes road games at Penn State and Iowa, a home clash with a dangerous Maryland team, and of course, the November showdown in Ann Arbor.
“This is the year Ryan Day needs to get everything right,” said McElroy. “That includes quarterback, play-calling, game management, all of it. Because with Jeremiah Smith and this defense, Ohio State has the personnel to win a national championship. But one misstep under center and it all falls apart.”
Locker Room Dynamics at Play
Another concern is managing the locker room. Devin Brown, now a redshirt junior, was seen as the heir apparent and is well-liked among teammates. But Sayin didn’t transfer to sit. He left Alabama, where he was in line to eventually start, because he wanted to compete for the job immediately. Kienholz, meanwhile, has shown leadership and consistency in workouts.
According to sources close to the team, there’s respect among the quarterbacks—but also tension. Each player knows what’s at stake. Day’s decision won’t just set the tone for the season. It could also trigger transfer fallout if mishandled.
The National Stakes
Ohio State opens the season ranked No. 3 in most preseason polls, behind Georgia and Texas. The roster is loaded: a dominant front seven, elite secondary depth, and a wide receiver room featuring not only Smith, but returning playmakers like Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate.
The national championship window is wide open.
“Every championship team needs three things: a lockdown defense, game-changers at skill positions, and a quarterback who can take over in the fourth quarter,” said former Ohio State quarterback and FOX analyst Troy Smith. “This team has the first two. If they figure out the third, there’s nobody they can’t beat.”
But therein lies the catch. With Michigan reloading, Penn State on the rise, and the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff format adding more chaos, there’s no room for miscalculations.
Will Day Unleash Smith—Or Waste Him?
The idea that Jeremiah Smith’s freshman season could be squandered due to subpar quarterback play has fans on edge. Smith is expected to be NFL-bound after just three seasons. If this first year doesn’t showcase his ability, it may be a lost opportunity—both for him and the Buckeyes.
“If I’m Ryan Day,” McElroy said bluntly, “I’m building my offense around Jeremiah Smith starting now. Not in Week 6. Not once I figure the QB out. Now.”
It’s a sentiment echoed by fans, alumni, and analysts alike. The ball is in Day’s court, and the margin for error couldn’t be smaller.
Ohio State has the weapons. It has the expectations. It has the superstar. Now, it needs the quarterback.
And if Ryan Day picks the wrong one, the 2025 season might be over before it even begins.