Ohio State heads into its Week 9 matchup against USC still without a publicly named starting quarterback. Head coach Ryan Day has declined to choose between true freshman Luke Fahey and sophomore Tavien St. Clair for Saturday’s game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (7 p.m. ET, NBC). Julian Sayin remains out indefinitely with an arm injury suffered in the fourth quarter of the Buckeyes’ 19-15 win at Indiana on October 17, and the staff has used the bye week and the early portion of this week to evaluate both options. Day has emphasized that both players practiced well and that the team has confidence in either one if they enter the game.
On Tuesday, Day addressed the possibility that both quarterbacks could see action against USC. “It’s definitely possible,” he said. “What the situations would be and what the circumstances would be, we’d have to see, but yeah, there’s definitely a chance.” He reiterated the same stance after Wednesday’s practice, stating that both Fahey and St. Clair “had a good week of practice” and that “both will be ready to play.” Day added that teammates believe either quarterback could perform if inserted. He has not indicated when a starter will be announced, noting only that practices have progressed similarly to previous weeks and that the staff will continue preparing for Saturday.
Background on the Competition
Fahey entered the Indiana game as the backup after Sayin was injured on a sack by Mario Landino. He finished 0-for-2 on pass attempts in limited duty. Prior to that appearance, Fahey had completed 9 of 13 passes for 203 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions across mop-up work against Ball State and Kent State. He had risen above St. Clair on the depth chart during preseason camp and remained the first option off the bench through the early portion of the season. Day confirmed earlier that Fahey was ahead of St. Clair heading into the Indiana game, which is why he entered first.
St. Clair, a five-star prospect from Bellefontaine, Ohio, in the 2025 recruiting class, has seen fewer competitive snaps. He is 5 of 9 for 52 yards with one touchdown and one interception in limited action this season. Day has said both players need to prepare as if they could play on the first or second snap, and the staff is developing packages for each. The bye week allowed both to receive first-team repetitions, and Day has described the energy in practice as positive. He has also stated that whoever starts should not spend the game looking over his shoulder, indicating the plan is to give the starter some opportunity to play through the early going.
Implications for the USC Game
The decision carries added weight because neither Fahey nor St. Clair has started a college game. Ohio State (6-1, 4-0 Big Ten) travels to face a USC team that features quarterback Jayden Maiava, who has thrown for more than 2,000 yards this season. The Buckeyes’ offense will also operate without running back Ja’Kobi Jackson, who underwent surgery for a Lisfranc injury and is not expected back until later in November, and with potential returns of other injured players still being finalized. Day has said the staff is looking for toughness—physical, mental, and emotional—from the quarterback position, along with the ability to make routine plays and avoid compounding difficult situations.
Day has kept the public messaging consistent across multiple press conferences this week. He has not named a starter, has praised the preparation of both players, and has left open the possibility that both appear against USC depending on the flow of the game. The final determination is expected to be made after the remaining practices, with one quarterback receiving the majority of first-team work by the end of the week. Until then, Ohio State is preparing both options for a road environment in which the outcome will help shape the rest of the regular season.
