Day stated that McCord was able to secure the starting quarterback position because of his perseverance during preseason camp.
Kyle McCord will start Saturday’s season opener against Indiana, according to a statement made by Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day on Tuesday. Devin Brown lost out to McCord for the starting position, but Day stated that Brown will play against the Hoosiers as well
For the past two weeks, Kyle has performed admirably, demonstrating consistency. He has performed admirably in practise. However, Day told reporters, “Devin has also demonstrated throughout the preseason that he deserves to play.” “We believe both of them are capable. The fact that we feel comfortable fielding two guys in a game is important. I’ve never really done this before, but you just go with what you see in practise on a daily basis.
Ohio State has a reputation for producing outstanding quarterback play, and C.J. Stroud is just the most recent rising star to pass through Columbus. Prior to being selected as the second pick in the NFL Draught, Stroud placed among the top four candidates for the Heisman Trophy during the previous two seasons.
McCord was Stroud’s backup last fall; he has been at OSU for a year longer than Brown. It was believed that McCord had an advantage going into autumn camp, particularly considering that Brown had missed time in the spring due to a finger injury. Brown, though, gained ground and complicated Day’s choice.
Day revealed that he conducted a straw poll among his staff last week following a team scrimmage, with the results showing that McCord and Brown were virtually tied. That continued the quarterback competition into this week, with McCord emerging victorious.
Over his career, McCord has thrown 606 yards on 41 of 58 completions, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. In his first season with the programme, Brown, a top-40 recruit in the 2022 class, did not attempt a pass.
Notably, McCord and standout wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. were teammates in high school. Harrison Jr. just finished a season in which he caught 77 passes for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns. Harrison leads a talented group of receivers that also includes Julian Fleming and Emeka Egbuka. OSU also has returning running backs Dallan Hayden, Miyan Williams, and TreVeyon Henderson.
Replacing three offensive line starters—tackles Paris Johnson and Dawand Jones, who are both currently in the NFL—is OSU’s top priority.
The Buckeyes have missed out on the Big Ten East championship the last two seasons due to losses to rival Michigan. The Buckeyes secured the No. 4 spot in the College Football Playoff, despite their defeat to the Wolverines in the previous season.
Ohio State led No. 1 Georgia by 14 points going into the fourth quarter of the CFP semifinals, but they tragically lost 42-41.
In 2023, will the Buckeyes be able to return to the CFP? The road game in Bloomington on Saturday is the first of those.
