Earlier this week Ohio State head coach Ryan Day refused to give reporters the satisfaction of naming a starting quarterback for this weekend’s highly anticipated game against USC.
“Both will be ready to play,” Day said regarding backup quarterbacks Luke Fahey and Tavien St. Clair. “Guys on the team have confidence that if both were put in the game, that they can do their job.”
Fahey, a three-star freshman from Mission Viejo, Calif., was the pick to fill in for the injured Julian Sayin in the Buckeyes’ narrow win over Indiana on Oct. 17. Fahey didn’t complete a pass (0 for 2) against the Hoosiers as Ohio State leaned on its defense to preserve the lead.
“Going into the last few games, Luke’s been ahead of Tavien, in terms of what we’ve seen,” Day said earlier this month. “That’s why he went in first. But now we have to come up for air and put together a plan. So, we need both the guys to practice really well.”
This week he added, “Things have progressed this week similar to the way they have in the past,. I’ll just leave it at that, keep preparing and play the game on Saturday.
While Day isn’t ready to name the starter just yet, the news leaked on its own.
Luke Fahey to Start vs. USC
College football insider Matt Zenitz is reporting Fahey will start against the Trojans.
“Was the clear favorite in the competition with sophomore Tavien St. Clair to be Ohio State’s new starter with Julian Sayin now injured but head coach Ryan Day has continued to decline to name a starter. However, it is expected to be Fahey,” he said.
Ohio State is expected to start true freshman Luke Fahey at quarterback tomorrow against USC, sources tell @CBSSports.
Was the clear favorite in the competition with sophomore Tavien St. Clair to be Ohio State’s new starter with Julian Sayin now injured but head coach Ryan Day… pic.twitter.com/n1irFnE9Wc— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) October 31, 2026
St. Clair is a former five-star in-state recruit from the 2025 class and the No. 3 quarterback nationally. Earlier this season he completed five of nine passes for 52 yards and one touchdown with one interception in spot duty against Ball State and Kent State.
Ohio State sits at 6-1 and while the College Football Playoff committee could excuse a loss without its star quarterback, the Buckeyes can’t let a losing streak begin. Meanwhile, USC is in desperate need of a win to keep its own playoff hopes alive after losing its second game of the season last weekend to Wisconsin.
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