Ohio State football’s Kyle McCord debate did not end with his transfer to Syracuse — Jimmy Watkins
CLEVELAND, Ohio — He shouldn’t have left, or Ohio State shouldn’t have let him. He should’ve beaten Michigan, or the Buckeyes should’ve known he couldn’t. Whether you argued for or against former OSU quarterback Kyle McCord, you should know the conversation isn’t over.
McCord’s transfer to Syracuse last week left open a path to stardom in Columbus. The Buckeyes’ next signal caller, whoever he is, will squat under center armed with the nation’s most talented wide receiver room and one of the country’s most talented rosters. Winning big — and producing big numbers — is penciled into the game plan
But the accompanying expectations are etched in ink. McCord’s 2023 resume — zero Heisman invites, zero Michigan wins, zero conference titles, zero College Football Playoff appearances — has been reduced to a failure by critics, even though his shoes are hard to fill in supporters’ eyes. And while McCord has left OSU’s quarterback room, his shadow — and the debate surrounding it — will hang over his successor for months.
The question is no longer “Is McCord good enough to meet Ohio State’s standards,” but “Is McCord’s replacement good enough to justify his exit.” The Buckeyes did not force him out, but they might’ve influenced his decision by asking him to compete for the job again. Now, thanks to the trusty transfer portal, fans will have more tools with which to overanalyze that decision from both ends.
For most of the last century, McCord’s statistical footprint would have stood as the standard for his successor. If the next Buckeye starter couldn’t complete 65.8% of his passes for 3,170 yards and 24 touchdowns compared to six interceptions, the thinking went, Ohio State should’ve kept McCord. If the next starter could match or exceed those numbers, coach Ryan Day made the right call.
With McCord at Syracuse, however, his shoes can change shape. His Orange teammates can answer questions about how he plays outside of the scarlet and grey infrastructure. As a result, his ACC box scores will be scrutinized through a Big Ten lens.
Can you imagine the mind-numbing debate comparing McCord’s early performances against Ohio, Army, and Holy Cross with Ohio State quarterback X’s against Akron, Western Michigan and Marshall? Laugh if you want, but they’re coming. Buckeye fans need something to talk (read: complain) about during the non-con slog. And tracking an ex-quarterback makes for fascinating (if toxic) early-season fodder.
It also creates more noise at Ohio State’s loudest position. The Buckeyes’ next quarterback, whoever he is, will be coached to believe in a one-player competition: Man vs. self. The only standard coaches will point him toward is the one he set yesterday. Any other comparison, they will tell him, is the thief of joy.
But as McCord learned last season, stolen glory is part of the position they are about to assume. Ohio State’s starting quarterback is not good enough unless he wins every game or plays well enough to be blameless in the losses. Each C.J. Stroud success story adds pressure to the players behind him. And McCord is either a victim of that logic or proof of its truth, depending on your perspective.
