With the defense of their national title beginning in just over three weeks, the Ohio State Buckeyes have yet to determine who will be under center when they host Texas on August 30.Sophomore Julian Sayin and junior Lincoln Kienholz are the prime competitors for the job left open by the departure of Will Howard.Howard, who transferred from Kansas State and led the Buckeyes to their sixth national championship in January, is now a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.”The competition continues,” head coach Ryan Day said. “They both have had good moments and moments where they’re growing. I will say I’ve been pleased with the progress. It’s going to go right down to the wire.”The positives of having a competition is that you know every day you got to bring it. The guys are always on edge, they’re uncomfortable, they’re working at it. I think that’s healthy for the entire building.”Sayin, a native of Carlsbad, Calif., got into four games last season, completing 5-of-12 passes for 84 yards, including a touchdown in an early rout of Western Michigan.Keinholz did not play in 2024, but got into three games in 2023, including OSU’s 14-3 Cotton Bowl loss to Missouri. The Pierre, S.D. native struggled in that outing, completing only 6-of-17 attempts for 86 yards and no touchdowns.