For the past five years, quarterback play at Ohio State has been second to none. For five consecutive seasons, the Buckeyes had a guy under center who was a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender and who had the talent to take over games and make extraordinary plays.

From Dwayne Haskins slicing apart the Big Ten record books in 2018, Justin Fields establishing himself as perhaps the best dual-threat quarterback in Ohio State history, and C.J. Stroud emerging as maybe the best pro prospect the program has ever produced.

We’ve seen the best quarterback play in the history of the program over the past five years with 10 of the 11 highest single-game passing totals have occurred since 2018, including the four highest and four of the top five single-season passing totals in program history, only missing 2020 because they only played eight games.

For half a decade, Ohio State has become synonymous with elite quarterbacks, producing a Heisman Trophy finalist in all but the 2020 COVID-19 season and seeing a quarterback drafted in the top half of the first round every time one left the program.

It’s been an insane run of incredible quarterbacks as Ohio State has made a pattern out of replacing what seemed like a generational talent with a guy who is probably even more talented.

Naturally, this has Ohio State fans craving the next guy in that cycle, whether it’s Devin Brown or Kyle McCord. But the truth is, that’s not what this team needs to compete for a national title next season.

Ohio State has so much talent across the board on offense this season that it doesn’t functionally matter whether McCord or Brown wins the starting job this season. They both more than meet the threshold required to lead this team to a national title.

The Buckeyes are entering the 2023 season with perhaps the single most talented group of wide receivers in college football history, top to bottom, headlined by the two best receivers in college football.

Ohio State also has arguably the deepest running backs room in America with at least two players who could start at any program in the country and two more players who have experience taking first-team snaps in pivotal moments.

With playmakers all over the field, Ohio State doesn’t necessarily need anything special from its quarterback this year. They just need him to avoid mistakes and distribute the ball.

“Because we have so many weapons that we don’t need extraordinary play,” Day said during an appearance on Always College Football with Greg McElroy according to On3. “We need consistent play, we need smart play, need to take care of the football, play well on third down, execute really well in the red zone and lead the team.

“You know, I know it sounds cliche, but that’s real. There’s about five plays in a game where you (have) to make great decisions and be smart and that might be throwing it away. It might be checking it down and might be trying to fit it into a window. And as a coach, you can’t quite cover all of those scenarios.”

Ohio State has so much talent across the board on offense this season that it doesn’t functionally matter whether McCord or Brown wins the starting job this season. They both more than meet the threshold required to lead this team to a national title.

“Because we have so many weapons that we don’t need extraordinary play.”

Ryan Day

It’s a high-profile quarterback competition. It’s going to get plenty of national attention. It’s going to be the biggest storyline of fall camp. But that doesn’t mean it matters all that much.

This isn’t meant to disparage McCord or Brown, who were two of the highest-rated quarterbacks in their respective classes and earned the position they are currently facing. There’s a very solid chance whoever earns the role goes on to become a first-round pick themselves. Shit, there’s a real chance they *both* go on to become first-round picks and potential NFL quarterbacks.

That also doesn’t mean I don’t have an opinions. Unfortunately, it doesn’t mean I’m waiving my right to criticisize whoever wins the job next season. Shit, I’m not even ruling out that I’ll call for the other guy at some point.

But I’m also not naive enough to think that this choice will actually make a real difference in the win-loss column.

The reality of the situation is that the baseline level of talent required to find success leading this Ohio State offense next season is so low that there is no concern about whether or not either McCord or Brown is up to the task – they are. There’s no question about it.

I’m not following the starting quarterback situation anxiously. I’m not concerned about who the choice is going to be. Because it doesn’t matter.

If Ohio State loses three games next season, it’s not going to be because of quarterback play. If Ohio State goes 15-0 and wins a national title, it’s also not going to be because of the quarterback play.

There could be problems, but those problems aren’t going to be solved by starting Brown over McCord, or McCord over Brown.

So I will simply be saving my anxiety for something that matters – and you should too.