ESPN Analyst Suggests Buckeyes QB Competition Could Dwell Into Week 2

ESPN's Greg McElroy isn't ready to give up on the Buckeyes QB battle just yet.

While Ohio State coach Ryan Day named Kyle McCord the Buckeyes' starter for the season opener against Indiana, he also mentioned the competition would continue heading into Week 2.

Could Devin Brown take over as QB1 against Youngstown State? One analyst believes it's not out of the realm of possibility.

ESPN's Greg McElroy recently said on the "Always College Football" podcast that McCord could be in for a bought with Brown until the conference play becomes a regular staple of the schedule come Week 5 against Maryland.

"It doesn't necessarily mean that this is set in stone," McElroy said. "It doesn't mean it couldn't change in Week 2 or Week 3. I think this is a very fluid situation.

"If [McCord] leaves the door open just the tiniest bit, I can see Devin Brown getting the start in Week 2 against Youngstown State."

🗣️ "This is a very fluid situation." @GregMcElroy reacts to Kyle McCord being named the Week 1 starting QB for @OhioStateFB ⬇️#GoBucks | #OhioState pic.twitter.com/mbfGq5T1RN

— Always College Football (@AlwaysCFB) August 29, 2023

McCord and Brown battled out for first-team reps throughout the spring following the departure of two-time Heisman Trophy finalist C.J. Stroud. Both players made strides, but McCord was considered the favorite entering the summer due to his veteran presence and rapport with the receivers.

"Kyle has done a great job over the last two weeks of showing consistency," Day said Tuesday. "He's played very well in practice."

Day mentioned that Brown's body of work throughout the offseason will allow him a chance to still compete for first-team reps. The most prominent hump to get over for the fifth-year coach will be finding a rhythm and flow for each quarterback to see quality action without disrupting the reps of the offense.

"I think that's significant that we have two guys that we feel confident playing in the game," said Day. "This is a little bit uncharted territory for me, but you just go on what you see every day in practice."

McCord's experience doesn't outweigh Brown by much, but he has been a part of the system for three seasons. In 2021, the junior started against Akron in place of Stroud, throwing for 319 yards and two touchdowns against one interception.

In two seasons, McCord has gone 41-of-58 passing for 606 yards and three touchdowns against two interceptions. Brown, a redshirt freshman, played in two games last fall and did not attempt a pass.

Ideally, Day would like to have a permanent starter penciled in by Week 4 when the Buckeyes travel to South Bend, Ind., to take on No. 14 Notre Dame. For now, Day views McCord's consistency over Brown's as "not a sizeable gap, but enough to be named a starter."

"I just don't have a crystal ball on this and I'm not sure how it is going to shake out," Day continued. "But, I think what we're doing is fair based on what we see in this preseason."

The Buckeyes open up as a 30-point favorite against the Hoosiers on the road. Kickoff from Memorial Stadium is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on CBS.