Kyle McCord replaces C.J. Stroud as Ohio State starter - ESPN

After a lengthy quarterback battle this offseason, Ohio State coach Ryan Day announced Kyle McCord as the starting quarterback for the first game of the season against Indiana.

McCord had been in a battle with Devin Brown as the team is looking to replace last season's starter, C.J. Stroud, who was the No. 2 selection in the NFL draft. Day had not named a starter and said as recently as last week that the players were still being evaluated.

«I think that's significant that we have two guys that we feel confident playing in the game,» Day said. «This is something that's a little unchartered territory for me, but you just go on what you see every day in practice. I think that Kyle's consistency the last couple of weeks has allowed him to be the starter.»

Day said McCord deserves to be the starter, but Brown's play throughout the offseason will give him the opportunity to see the field as well. The biggest challenge, according to Day, will be find a rhythm and flow for each quarterback and will go off of how the preparation for the week goes to determine playing time for both.

Day had said the battle had gone back and forth with Brown making a big push as of late, but he saw McCord step up and continue to play consistently in practice. Now, despite being named the starter, McCord needs to show Day the same consistency during the season.

«I think the first thing is you just have to go watch them play in the game, and it's one thing in practice, you see certain things but to get tackled and to move the team down the field,» Day said. «Finish off drives, do well on third down, do well in the red zone. That's going to continue to play itself out during the season and there's been teams that have done this similar before.»

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