Devin Brown remains Ohio State’s Backup Quarterback for the College Football Playoff despite entering the transfer portal

Ryan Day said Monday that Brown remains Ohio State’s backup quarterback behind Will Howard, though Julian Sayin has also seen regular work in practice coming into the College Football Playoff.

“Julian gets a lot of reps in there, but Devin is the backup quarterback right now,” Day said. “But Julian is right there. And he’s got to continue to push in that area. You just never know how it’s going to shake out. There’s a lot of football ahead of us. We’re going to need all those guys.”

Day said he appreciates Brown’s decision to stay with the Buckeyes for the CFP, even though he chose to enter the portal.

“I give Devin credit, he wants to end this thing the right way. But he also wants to see what other options are available for his future,” Day said. “And I think it’s not an easy thing for him to do. But I give him credit for wanting to end this thing the right way.”

While Brown has been Ohio State’s backup quarterback all season, Sayin is considered the front-runner to start next season. That said, Sayin has only played in three games as a freshman, making Brown the more experienced option to come off the bench if Ohio State needs a quarterback other than Howard to play against Tennessee or in other CFP -games if the Buckeyes advance.

Brown is one of six Ohio State players to enter the transfer portal since the end of the regular season. Day said wide receiver Kojo Antwi also remains with the team for the CFP despite entering the portal, but wide receiver Jayden Ballard and linebacker Gabe Powers have both left the team.

Day did not address whether offensive tackle Miles Walker or quarterback Air Noland — who entered the portal after Day’s news conference Monday — would remain with the team for the CFP. Neither has played a snap as a Buckeye.