COLUMBUS, Ohio – There is an alternate reality in which Devin Brown was named the starting quarterback of the Ohio State football team today or in the past because no one had any reason to believe otherwise.
It’s a reality that new Big Ten opponent USC is living out in real time. Nine months ago, Brown and Miller Moss were in the same position. Both had spent the year sitting behind former five-star recruits eligible for the NFL Draft while waiting in line for their turn.
Both saw seasons disappoint – to varying degrees, of course – leading to these five-star quarterbacks choosing to move on rather than play in bowl games outside of the College Football Playoff. But again, “moving on” has a very different meaning for one side than the other. Caleb Williams moved on to the NFL as the No. 1 pick. Kyle McCord moved on to Syracuse.
The point is that both Brown and Moss found themselves in a position where they could solidify the future of their programs by flashing their potential and helping their teams finish the season on a high note. It became a reward for two guys who had been waiting for their chance in a world where most don’t get their turn.
“I think it’s a tremendous honor to play quarterback for Coach Riley,” Moss said at Big Ten Media Days. “I had certain goals when I signed with USC and I wanted to accomplish them until I couldn’t anymore. … Plus, the guy I was sitting behind was pretty good, too. That gave me a little comfort.”
Moss got his chance against Louisville in the Holiday Bowl. Brown got his chance against Missouri in the Cotton Bowl. The former took advantage of his opportunity, throwing for 372 yards and six touchdowns in a 42-28 victory. The latter played 17 snaps before injuring his ankle, ending his season.
One dismissed any questions about his program’s quarterback future before they could even be formed. Unfortunate circumstances prevented the other from doing so. And yet here he is, fighting for another chance, scoffing at the idea that he would ever consider moving on.
Brown has always been determined to one day be Ohio State’s starting quarterback, no matter how long it takes, and that attitude will be tested again in 2024.
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In 2022, that wasn’t a realistic conversation. He was a true freshman, third in the hierarchy behind a returning Heisman Trophy finalist and a former five-star recruit in his second year with a start under his belt. This year was about learning.
In 2023, he got his first chance and battled McCord. He showed so much that he continued the battle into the early weeks of the season before McCord finally won. But even then, he still had a role to play as a red zone package was born to utilize a skill set the guy before him didn’t have. But he couldn’t stay healthy, so that package died before it ever got off the ground.
In 2024, he’ll have to compete in a five-man room that includes a five-year veteran looking to raise his profile, a five-star rookie already making waves, and two other highly rated guys developing in the background. That’s not exactly the clearest path to the field.
We don’t live in the reality where Brown goes all out in the Cotton Bowl and makes it clear to Ryan Day that he doesn’t need to use the transfer portal. We don’t even live in the reality where he could have gone into his second year as a starter after beating out McCord last August, which was a real possibility at the time.
“This time last year, I thought Devin was going to be the starter,” Day said. “Then Kyle ended up being the starter.”
We live in the reality where Day brought in Will Howard and he has now secured the job two weeks before the season opener.
Once again, Brown’s resolve will be tested. And so will his place in the rankings. For now, he seems ready to continue the race, still confident that the reward awaits him at the finish line.
“Devin has shown he can do everything we’ve asked of him,” Day said. “He just needs to be consistent and take care of the football to make sure he does a great job going forward. If he can do that, he can play and contribute for us.”
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