With the transfer portal set to open later this week, Lincoln Kienholz has had conversations with Ohio State head coach Ryan Day and quarterbacks coach Billy Fessler about the decision he’ll soon have to make for his future.
During Cotton Bowl media day on Monday, Kienholz said he hasn’t yet made a final decision on whether he’ll enter the portal. But with Julian Sayin set to return for at least one more year as Ohio State’s starting quarterback, Kienholz is eager for his own opportunity to be a starter and could transfer elsewhere for that opportunity.
“I've definitely had conversations,” Kienholz told Eleven Warriors. “I'm not 100% sure, but my goal is to go to the NFL, and in order to do that, you gotta play. So I've had conversations with Coach Day and also with Coach Fessler a little bit about it.”
Lincoln Kienholz says he hasnt made his final decision on whether hell enter the transfer portal, but hes discussed the possibility with Ryan Day and Billy Fessler.
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) December 29, 2025
I've definitely had conversations. I'm not 100% sure, but my goal is to go to the NFL, and in order to do pic.twitter.com/jSpSEmNZAI
As a redshirt sophomore, Kienholz has two more years of collegiate eligibility. Through three years at Ohio State, Kienholz has yet to start a game, seeing his most substantial playing time as a Buckeye as a true freshman in the 2023 Cotton Bowl against Missouri two years ago, when he replaced an injured Devin Brown in the second quarter and quarterbacked Ohio State’s offense for the rest of the game.
Kienholz has been Ohio State’s No. 2 quarterback this season, playing 62 snaps off the bench. He’s seen occasional action with the first-team offense in situational packages, mostly in short-yardage and goal-line situations where the Buckeyes have utilized his running ability.
He acknowledges it’s been challenging to spend most of his time watching from the sidelines, but he says “it’s been super special” to see the success of Sayin, a Heisman Trophy finalist this season. And Kienholz is staying ready to play knowing he’s still just one play away from being thrust into action in the College Football Playoff if anything happens to Sayin.
“It's difficult for sure. Just being a backup quarterback's hard, ‘cause you are one play away, but then you also might not be playing at all that year,” Kienholz said. “So it's tough for sure. But also, just being prepared for that situation is important, ‘cause once you get your chance to go out there, you gotta capitalize on it.”
Should Kienholz enter the portal, he’s expected to draw plenty of interest as a potential starting quarterback elsewhere. While he hasn’t played consistently at Ohio State, he’s flashed the ability to be a dynamic dual threat, completing 11 of 14 passes for 139 yards and one touchdown while running for 66 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries this season.
Kienholz certainly wouldn’t be the first quarterback in recent years to transfer from Ohio State and find success elsewhere. Most notably, Joe Burrow transferred to LSU after Dwayne Haskins won Ohio State’s 2018 starting quarterback competition; Burrow went on to win a Heisman Trophy and a national championship in his second season at LSU and became the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft. Kyle McCord broke the ACC passing record at Syracuse after transferring from Ohio State following the 2023 regular season. Quinn Ewers, who transferred to Texas and played three seasons for the Longhorns after one year at Ohio State, is now the starting quarterback for the Miami Dolphins.
Kienholz believes his three years at Ohio State have set him up to succeed elsewhere if he ultimately chooses to transfer.
“It's definitely helped me,” Kienholz said. “It's helped me just learn a lot just about the position and the speed of the game and just everything that comes with being a quarterback at the highest level. So I think it's gonna help me wherever I go.”
Watching Will Howard lead Ohio State to a national championship last season and watching Sayin lead the Buckeyes to a 12-0 regular season this year has offered Kienholz great examples of how to be a successful quarterback at the highest level of college football.
“It's definitely helped me just seeing those guys excel,” Kienholz said. “It's definitely put that picture in my head of what a super-high-level quarterback looks like. And I've got to learn underneath them the past two years. So it's definitely gonna help me.”
Asked what he believes will enable him to have his own success when he gets his chance to start, Kienholz pointed to his work ethic and leadership ability.
“I'd say just continuing to be a hardworking person, on and off the field, whether that's film or on the field,” Kienholz said. “Just pushing teammates, and also just being that leader as well.”
The transfer portal officially opens Friday, just two days after Ohio State plays Miami in the Cotton Bowl, a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game. While the portal will only be open for 10 days, Kienholz and his Ohio State teammates would get an extra five-day window to enter the portal if the Buckeyes after the national championship game if the Buckeyes advance to the CFP final. Even if Kienholz enters the portal before the conclusion of Ohio State’s CFP run, he’s expected to remain with the Buckeyes through the end of their season.
