5 months ago
- Ohio State
- Published: Dec. 29, 2025, 5:00 p.m.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Ohio State backup backmost Lincoln Kienholz plans to beryllium pinch nan programme passim its College Football Playoff run, which originates Wednesday successful a quarterfinal matchup against Miami.
What lies beyond remains unclear, though. Kienholz is considering entering nan transportation portal arsenic he looks to further his ambitions of playing astatine nan collegiate level and getting to nan NFL.
“I haven’t thought astir a circumstantial spot yet correct now,” Kienholz told cleveland.com Monday erstwhile asked if he’s thought astir wherever he mightiness beryllium adjacent season. “I’m conscionable trying to attraction connected nan game.”
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Ohio State’s return to AT&T Stadium for Wednesday’s matchup provides a spot of a afloat circle infinitesimal for Kienholz.
In 2023, erstwhile he was a existent freshman still caller disconnected signing arsenic a four-star prospect, Kienholz was forced to play against Missouri successful nan Cotton Bowl. Starting backmost Kyle McCord had near for nan portal and backup Devin Brown suffered an early wounded against nan Tigers, thrusting Kienholz into action.
“I wasn’t fresh to spell play,” Kienholz said erstwhile looking back.
However, his improvement returned to a normal way soon thereafter.
Will Howard transferred from Kansas State to Ohio State up of nan 2024 season, allowing Kienholz to move down nan extent floor plan and activity down nan scenes. He played only 8 snaps past season, but he emerged arsenic a contender to commencement this year.
Kienholz competed pinch Julian Sayin for nan starting occupation successful nan outpouring and into preseason camp. Ultimately, Sayin — a erstwhile five-star imaginable who was a Heisman Trophy finalist this play — won nan job.
“We kept pushing each different backmost and forth,” Kienholz said. “I deliberation that’s what made america better.”
With Sayin expected to return adjacent year, Kienholz’s champion chance astatine earning accordant playing clip successful 2026 is apt astatine different school.
That doesn’t mean his profession astatine Ohio State is done yet. The Buckeyes dealt pinch a akin business past season.
Brown entered nan transportation portal up of nan 2024-25 College Football Playoff, but he stayed pinch nan squad passim its tally toward nan ninth nationalist title successful programme history. With Ohio State blowing retired Tennessee successful nan first round, he moreover earned 3 postseason snaps.
“I deliberation he handled it really well,” Kienholz said of Brown. “I deliberation he was ace supportive of Will. I deliberation I’ve taken immoderate things from that and besides been ace supportive of Julian arsenic well.”
Any backup backmost will show you he prepares arsenic a starter because he’s 1 wounded distant from getting thrust into nan game. However, that attack isn’t exclusive to wounded for Kienholz.
Ohio State has relied connected his athleticism astatine times pinch packages designed specifically for him. The Buckeyes were prepared to play him successful a goal-to-go business against Michigan past month, but a reappraisal by nan officials changed their plan.
Against Indiana successful nan Big Ten Championship Game, Kienholz didn’t play, but coach Ryan Day said that might’ve been a mediocre determination fixed Ohio State’s reddish area struggles that night.
“It’s cool, for sure,” Kienholz said. “The coaches spot maine to spell retired there, do nan correct point and besides make nan play.”
Thanks to his recruiting floor plan and clip spent nether Day, Kienholz would apt beryllium an intriguing imaginable for powerfulness convention schools if he entered nan portal.
“It’s been a blessing nan past 3 years conscionable to study nether him, study his strategy and study his offense,” Kienholz said. “... It’s going to thief maine for my career.”
Ohio State shot hit writer
