Ryan Day gives 'critical' timeline for deciding Ohio State starting QB between Julian Sayin, Lincoln Kienholz

Like a lot of teams in college football this upcoming season, Ohio State is still figuring out its quarterback situation.

The Buckeyes are part of a growing group of national contenders—Oregon, Georgia, Notre Dame, and even their Week 1 opponent Texas—that will be breaking in new starting quarterbacks this fall.

That opener against the Longhorns looms large, projected to be a matchup between the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country. It also puts pressure on Ohio State coach Ryan Day to make his final decision in the coming weeks.

Right now, the competition is down to Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz after former starter Will Howard was selected in April’s NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. And based on Day’s comments to reporters on Wednesday, neither player has taken control of the job just yet.

“They both have had good moments and moments where they're growing,” Day said. “The competition continues. I will say that I've been pleased with the progress. We're not where we need to be, but if they continue to learn from the mistakes they're making and continue to grow off the plays that they're doing well ... then it's gonna go right down to the wire."

Sayin has been the assumed front-runner ever since Howard left. The former five-star, who transferred from Alabama last year, has widely been viewed as the next in line.

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Day did hint that the final stretch of camp is when the decision will be made.

"Where it goes here by the end of the week is critical," Day said. "I think (passing game coordinator Matt Guerrieri) said it's moving week, like 'moving day' in the PGA Tour, so it's moving week."

Whoever seizes the job will be thrown straight into the fire in Week 1, facing one of the best defenses in the country and going head-to-head with Arch Manning on the other side.