Ohio State has not had to start a backup quarterback in a few seasons, but with Julian Sayin hurt, either Luke Fahey or Tavien St. Clair will join the extensive list of Buckeyes backups forced into the starter's role this century.
Sayin had to leave Ohio State's 19-15 win against Indiana after taking a sack in the fourth quarter. He exited to the locker room and appeared on the sideline later with a sling on his arm. Backup quarterback Luke Fahey took his place for the final three offensive drives.
Buckeyes coach Ryan Day ruled out Sayin indefinitely with an unspecified injury on Oct. 20. Ohio State is planning on going through the regular season and postseason without him.
The Buckeyes are likely to turn Fahey. The true freshman rose up the depth
chart in training camp and entered September as the backup over Tavien St. Clair, a former five-star from Bellefontaine.
Read below to see Ohio State's history using backup quarterbacks this century.
Devin Brown, 2023 Cotton Bowl vs Missouri
Brown took over starting duties for the Buckeyes after a 30-24 loss to Michigan. Ohio State's previous starter, Kyle McCord, had announced his decision to enter the transfer portal and eventually committed to Syracuse.
Brown's debut in the Cotton Bowl did not go well. On Ohio State's third drive, Brown began limping after taking a sack. He attempted to keep playing but his mobility was limited, and so freshman quarterback Lincoln Kienholz took over for the remainder of the game.
The 14-3 loss remains the lowest-scoring affair of Ryan Day's tenure. Brown attempted six passes, completing four for 20 yards while taking three sacks. Kienholz completed six of 17 passes for 86 yards while taking a sack and losing a fumble that effectively ended the game.
The following year, Brown backed up transfer quarterback Will Howard. Brown transferred to California after the national championship season, where backed up Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. Brown transferred once more to Weber State for his final year of eligibility, but he dislocated his pinky in his first start and ended up appearing in just two games that season.
Kyle McCord, 2021 vs Akron
McCord got his first start as a true freshman in the 2022 season while C.J. Stroud dealt with a sore shoulder. McCord completed 13 of 18 passes for 319 yards and two touchdowns with one interception against Akron, and his day was done halfway through the third quarter. Ohio State won 59-7 against its MAC conference opponent. Stroud took the reins of the offense back the next game.
J.T. Barrett, 2015 season
Cardale Jones earned the starting job after Barrett broke his ankle in the Ohio State-Michigan game the season prior. Jones, however, had consistency troubles in 2015, completing 62.5% of his passes with eight touchdowns and five interceptions.
Ohio State coach Urban Meyer named Barrett the starter for Ohio State's game against Rutgers. He remained in the role the rest of the year and finished with a 63.3% completion percentage, 992 yards and 11 touchdowns with four interceptions. He also rushed for 682 yards and 11 more scores.
Cardale Jones, 2014 playoffs
Jones started the year as the third string before Braxton Miller re-injured his shoulder in the preseason, elevating Barrett to the starter's job and Jones to backup.
Jones got his chance after Barrett, as previously mentioned, broke his ankle against Michigan. In the Big Ten championship, Jones completed 70.6% of his passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns, and the Buckeyes won 59-0. He had a shakier game against Alabama, completing 51.4% of his passes and throwing an interception, but Ohio State still advanced to the national championship.
Jones delivered when it mattered most. He passed for 242 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and he rushed for a touchdown in the Buckeyes' 42-20 victory over Oregon to win the title.
Kenny Guiton, 2013 season
Kenny Guiton played in place of Miller when the starter sprained his MCL against San Diego State in Week 2. For two starts, he delivered. He threw for 491 passing yards and a whopping 10 passing touchdowns; he also became the first Ohio State quarterback to throw six touchdown passes in a game in Ohio State's 76-0 win against California. His record still stands, although he now shares it with Stroud, Justin Fields, Dwayne Haskins and Barrett.
Miller took over starting duties on Sept. 28 against Wisconsin.
Justin Zwick, 2004 Alamo Bowl, 2005 vs. Miami (OH)
Zwick lost the starting job in 2004 to Troy Smith, but while Smith served a two-game suspension for accepting $500 from a team booster, Zwick got to start in the 2004 Alamo Bowl and the 2005 opener against Miami.
In the Alamo Bowl, Ohio State saw more trouble at quarterback when Zwick sustained a mild hamstring strain. Because the Buckeyes did not want to burn a redshirt year for quarterback Todd Boeckman, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel sent out wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. behind center. Ginn took seven snaps operating as a quarterback in the wildcat formation before Zwick returned and gutted out the rest of the game.
Ginn Jr. never threw the ball, but rushed seven times for 40 yards and a touchdown. Also grabbing six receptions from Zwick, Ginn Jr. finished with 118 yards from scrimmage.
Against Miami, Zwick passed for 155 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Boeckman also saw action, completing six of seven passes for 67 yards in the 34-14 victory.
Troy Smith, 2004 season
Before winning the Heisman Trophy in the 2006 season, Smith served as Zwick's backup in 2004. Zwick's season was already trending downward – the Buckeyes were 3-3 in his starts – and then he injured his shoulder in a 33-7 loss to Iowa, propelling Smith to the starting role.
In five starts, Smith led the Buckeyes to a 4-1 record, including a stellar performance against Michigan; he accounted for three total touchdowns, passing for 241 yards while rushing for 145 more. Then Smith was suspended for the Alamo Bowl.
Scott McMullen, 2003 season
McMullen started in place of Craig Krenzel, who missed two games with an elbow injury in the 2003 season. McMullen won his starts against Bowling Green and Northwestern, and then he began playing in a two-quarterback rotation with Krenzel for the rest of the season.
Scott McMullen and Craig Krenzel, 2001 season
McMullen started in place of quarterback Steve Bellisari, who was suspended one game by Tressel for a DUI arrest.
McMullen had a bad start, making three of 13 throws for 42 yards and a passing touchdown. A year before becoming the full-time starter and leading Ohio State to a national championship, Krenzel performed better than McMullen in the Illini loss and earned the start for the Buckeyes against Michigan.
Krenzel completed 11 of 18 passes for 118 yards with a touchdown and an interception, which was good enough during the 26-20 win.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: See Ohio State's history using backup quarterbacks this century
