Ryan Day reveals he wasn’t sure about Kyle McCord as the starting QB last year: "I couldn't look them in the eye"

Last year, the battle for the Ohio State QB1 spot went well into the start of the season with coach Ryan Day finally opting for the talented Kyle McCord over Devin Brown. This season, Day has named the starting quarterback two weeks before the season started in earnest.

Kansas State Wildcats transfer Will Howard won the QB1 spot over Brown and talented five-star quarterback Julian Sayin.

While speaking to reporters about last year's situation, Ryan Day revealed that he was unsure about which quarterback to name as his starter and he held off until he was absolutely sure. (Start at 12:20)

"At this time last year, I thought Devin was gonna be the starter, and Kyle just kind of came on and down the stretch really did a great job," Day said. Going into those first couple games, I couldn’t look the team in the eye and say that he’s the starter. Because they know what they see. And that’s a big part, is the locker room, and then [Kyle] won it in the first couple weeks and then kind of went from there.”

"So I think every year is different. But I think this situation [with Will], this was the right time."

Ryan Day on why Devin Brown did not win QB battle over Will Howard

Devin Brown and Kyle McCord battled for supremacy for over a year starting with the 2022 Peach Bowl game. But the former got surgery due to a finger injury, giving McCord the edge, and Ryan Day considered him the QB1 then after the final week of spring practice.

This time around, Brown lost out in the QB battle to transfer Will Howard. Ryan Day outlined the reasons why Brown was not named the QB1 heading into this season. (Start at 7:18)

“I shared with the group that we were going to name Will (Howard) the starter. I felt like he separated himself in particular in the last week to 10 days, that right now Devin would be the no. 2, but that is going to continue to be a competition. ...

"Devin has shown the ability to do just about everything we ask him to do,” Day said. “It’s the consistency part and taking care of the football part that he’s just got to make sure that he does a great job of moving forward, and if he can do that, then he can play and be a contributor."

Kyle McCord entered the transfer portal from Ohio State and landed on the Syracuse Orange under coach Fran Brown. Devin Brown started the Cotton Bowl game against the Missouri Tigers, which the Buckeyes lost 14-3. The quarterback sprained his ankle, opening the door for Will Howard, who was recruited from the transfer portal a week later.