Ohio State’s first game of the 2023 season is 10 days away, but the Buckeyes still don’t have a quarterback.

With it now appearing likely that Ohio State’s quarterback competition will continue into the start of the season, we start this week’s episode of Real Pod Wednesdays by weighing what we make of the Buckeyes still not picking a starter, when they must settle in on one quarterback and who will hold the edge if the competition continues into the season.

Of course, quarterback isn’t the only position where players have been competing for a starting spot or spots in preseason camp. Josh Simmons, Carson Hinzman and Josh Fryar appear to have won starting jobs on the offensive line and Sonny Styles has solidified himself as a starter at safety, but the free safety job remains up for grabs between Ja’Had Carter, Josh Proctor and Malik Hartford. We discuss all of that on this week’s show as well as the buzz that keeps growing louder surrounding Carnell Tate, Ohio State’s excitement about second-year defensive ends Kenyatta Jackson and Caden Curry and C.J. Hicks emerging as the potential leader to play significant snaps at Jack.

We also discuss what we make of Ohio State selecting only three captains this year, discuss our picks for which regular-season games we‘re most and least confident Ohio State will win and share our thoughts on Ohio State staying within the Big Ten with its new presidential hire.

The full rundown of topics we’re discussing this week:

• 0:37: Ohio State still needs to pick a starter, but it’s a good thing to feel good about two quarterbacks
• 4:20: Ohio State needs to have a firm starter before the Notre Dame game, and ideally sooner
• 10:42: In-season quarterback competitions have worked out at other schools in recent years
• 12:46: A quarterback competition continuing into the season typically favors the younger player
• 17:59: Ohio State can’t let the quarterback competition get in the way of winning games
• 20:49: There’s no longer any doubt Sonny Styles will play a huge role this year
• 23:54: We still see Ja’Had Carter as the likely starting free safety, but Malik Hartford is making a move
• 28:34: Ohio State seems to have its starting offensive line and growing confidence in that unit
• 35:02: Kenyatta Jackson, Caden Curry generating excitement as second-string defensive ends
• 36:39: Carnell Tate making real push to play a big role as a true freshman
• 41:25: C.J. Hicks and Cody Simon should both play regularly, and Hicks could lead the way at Jack
• 45:17: Only three captains was surprising, but it’s not a bad thing
• 51:26: Who we‘re most confident Ohio State will beat and which games we see as the biggest tests
• 1:04:01: Five-star pairing of Eddrick Houston, Justin Scott a crucial recruiting win for Larry Johnson
• 1:08:24: Ohio State’s new president already knows the Big Ten and loves sports
• 1:12:22: Best wishes to Sammy Sasso, who we hope to see back on the wrestling mat soon