Ohio State has selected its starting quarterback.

On Thursday, Buckeyes coach Ryan Day announced that Will Howard, a transfer from Kansas State, has emerged victorious in the quarterback competition and will start the season opener on August 31 against Akron.

From the beginning of training camp, it seemed likely that Howard would be the chosen one. As a fifth-year senior, he took the majority of first-team snaps during practices open to the media and displayed strong command of the offense.

“(Offensive coordinator) Chip (Kelly) has done an excellent job rotating the quarterbacks throughout spring and into now, which has been around 27-28 practices,” Day explained. “Overall, Will consistently performed much better than the other candidates.”

Despite some struggles in the spring, Howard has since transformed his physique, shedding 15 pounds and modifying his throwing style.

“Will has really taken charge of the offense,” Day remarked. “You can feel his presence in the huddle. His experience is apparent. He did a fantastic job of improving his body during the offseason, becoming a dual-threat with his legs and arm. As he gains a better understanding of his role, he’s been executing excellently. The players are energized when he steps into the huddle.”

Devin Brown, a third-year player in the OSU system, had a solid spring and was expected to challenge Howard in training camp. However, Howard distinguished himself, earning recognition from both peers and coaches.

Day stated that Brown will serve as the primary backup at this stage, but the competition will remain ongoing. The Buckeyes are set for another scrimmage on Saturday, and Day discussed the decision with the quarterbacks in a meeting on Thursday morning, informing them that Howard had secured the starter role.

“Devin has shown he can execute nearly everything we’ve assigned him,” Day noted. “Now, he needs to maintain consistent performance and protect the football better moving forward.”

“Both players have been taking snaps with the first team. But I must note, Will has made significant improvements over the past few practices, particularly in crucial third-down situations. He hasn’t officially claimed the role yet, but we’ve seen promising performances from him.”

Day clarified that he wanted to observe how the players performed during an intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday before arriving at his decision.

Clearly, both he and Kelly were satisfied with what they witnessed.

“He’s really put in the effort during the offseason,” Kelly added. “Since we concluded spring practice on April 13, he has made remarkable advancements. We provided him with a summer plan, and he executed it impressively. His current state is quite remarkable.”

Day mentioned that Ohio State’s strong defense had been challenging for the offense early in training camp, but they found greater success in Saturday’s scrimmage. Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has expressed admiration for Howard.

“He’s making all the right throws,” Knowles observed. “His vision and arm strength are impressive. With our talented receivers, he’s placing the ball where only they can catch it. It’s not just about arm strength; he’s making accurate throws.”