Lincoln Kienholz is gone. Honestly, it felt inevitable the moment Julian Sayin started dropping dimes in the 2025 spring game. You've probably seen the headlines by now: the kid from South Dakota, the multi-sport phenom who once looked like the "next big thing" in Columbus, has packed his bags for Louisville.
It’s a classic college football story. A small-town hero moves to the big city, gets caught in a numbers game with five-star recruits, and eventually looks for a fresh start. But if you think this is just another backup quarterback entering the portal, you’re missing the nuance of what actually went down in the Buckeyes' facility over the last two years.
Why Lincoln Kienholz Ohio State Quarterback Future Moved to Louisville
The reality is that Kienholz didn't leave because he lacked talent. Far from it. Ryan Day and the offensive staff were genuinely high on him—kinda rare for a guy from Pierre, South Dakota, to stick around that long in a room full of blue-chippers.
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The turning point was the 2025 season. While Julian Sayin was busy cementing himself as a Heisman finalist and leading Ohio State to a CFP berth, Kienholz was stuck in the "reliable backup" role. He played in six games, mostly mop-up duty, but he was efficient. He completed 11 of 14 passes. That’s nearly 79%. He also showed off the wheels that made him a legend back home, racking up 66 yards and two scores on the ground.
But at Ohio State, "efficient backup" doesn't get you the starting job in 2026. Not when Tavien St. Clair is breathing down your neck and Sayin is the undisputed king of the roster. Kienholz saw the writing on the wall. He chose Jeff Brohm and the Cardinals on January 3, 2026.
The "Burrow" Comparison and the Louisville Fit
People love to throw around the Joe Burrow comparison. Is it fair? Sorta. Like Burrow, Kienholz was a multi-sport star who didn't get the "elite" tag early on but possessed an insane competitive streak. He was the USA Today National High School Athlete of the Year in 2023 for a reason. He wasn't just a football player; he was a deadeye shooter on the court and a legitimate pitching prospect on the mound.
Jeff Brohm knows this. Louisville didn't just bring him in to sit. They paid a premium—rumors suggest an NIL package in the $2.5 million range—to ensure they had a mobile, accurate signal-caller to run that high-octane ACC offense.
What This Means for the 2026 Buckeyes Depth Chart
With Kienholz out of the picture, the Ohio State room looks very different. The safety net is gone.
Basically, the Buckeyes are betting the house on two guys.
- Julian Sayin: The incumbent. He’s coming off a 3,600-yard season with 32 touchdowns. He’s the guy.
- Tavien St. Clair: The local hero from Bellefontaine. He’s got the size (6-4, 220) and the "it" factor. Now that Kienholz is in Kentucky, St. Clair is the definitive QB2.
There isn't much behind them. You have Trey Robinette and Kolton Stover, but they haven't seen meaningful snaps. Ryan Day is likely going to have to dive back into the portal just to find a veteran who can hold a clipboard without complaining.
The South Dakota Legacy
It’s easy to forget just how good Kienholz was before he arrived in Columbus. He finished his career at T.F. Riggs High School as the all-time passing leader in South Dakota history. 9,100 yards. 104 touchdowns.
He was only the second player from that state to ever sign with Ohio State. The first, Grant Schmidt, never even played a game. Kienholz actually got on the field. He survived the 2023 Cotton Bowl disaster where he was thrown into the fire against Missouri after Devin Brown went down. That game was ugly (14-3 loss), but it wasn't really on him. He was a true freshman playing behind a line that was essentially a sieve that night.
Final Insights: The Path Forward
So, what’s the move if you're a fan or a scout watching this?
First, don't sleep on Louisville in 2026. Kienholz is entering a system that rewards his ability to throw on the run. He has two years of eligibility left and a massive chip on his shoulder.
Second, for Ohio State, the pressure on Julian Sayin to stay healthy is now astronomical. Without a veteran like Kienholz to step in, a single rolled ankle could derail a championship season.
If you're following Kienholz’s career, keep an eye on his completion percentage in early September. If he carries that 78% mark over to the ACC, he won't just be a "transfer story"—he’ll be a Sunday prospect.
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Next Steps for Followers:
- Watch the Louisville Spring Game: See how Brohm integrates Kienholz’s mobility into the RPO game.
- Monitor the OSU Portal Activity: Look for Ryan Day to add a "graduate assistant" type veteran QB by May.
- Track St. Clair's Development: His "black stripe" is off, but can he handle the mental load of being one play away from starting at Ohio State?
The Lincoln Kienholz era in Columbus ended quietly, but his real story is probably just starting in the Bluegrass State.