The Ohio State Buckeyes lost in heartbreaking fashion against the Miami Hurricanes in their first game of the 2025 College Football Playoff.
Despite entering the game as heavy favorites, Ohio State looked out of character from the very start of the game. Ryan Day and company were simply unable to play the way they had played all season. Now, the Buckeyes are headed into the offseason dealing with major disappointment.
Shortly after Ohio State lost to Miami, veteran quarterback Lincoln Kienholz decided to enter the transfer portal.
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Kienholz has been with the program since 2023. He will be looking for a team that can offer him an opportunity to start and prove himself since he was unable to find that role with the Buckeyes.
With Kienholz officially in the transfer portal, the question about a potential landing spot has been raised.
While some teams have been brought up like Washington, who he was originally committed to before flipping to Ohio State, there is a Big Ten opponent who could come calling with interest.
Heading into the offseason, Matt Campbell and the Penn State Nittany Lions will need to find a new quarterback. Drew Allar is leaving town for the 2026 NFL Draft and reports have come out that Ethan Grunkemeyer has entered the transfer portal.
Penn State has been heavily connected to Iowa State transfer quarterback Rocco Becht. His relationship with Campbell would make sense for the Nittany Lions to be his landing spot. However, if he chooses to go elsewhere, Kienholz could make a lot of sense.
Throughout his time with the Buckeyes, Kienholz played very sparingly. He completed 21 of his 36 total pass attempts for 250 yards, a touchdown, and no interceptions, while also running for 68 yards and two scores.
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Originally, according to 247 Sports, Kienholz was a four-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class. He was ranked No. 11 at the quarterback position and No. 138 in the nation. There is no denying that he has the talent to be a good starting quarterback.
It’s possible that Penn State won’t have any interest in Kienholz. On the other hand, he could end up being a player the Nittany Lions target as a potential starting option for the 2026 season.
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