CJ Stroud delivered the news many fans and analysts were expecting for a while. After a long wait and some suspense, Stroud officially declared for the 2023 NFL Draft on Monday.

Stroud’s departure is not surprising but it does put another offseason quarterback battle at the front of Ohio State’s offseason needs heading into the 2023 season. By most accounts, that battle will primarily come down to Kyle McCord and Devin Brown.

McCord has been a two-year backup to Stroud since joining Ohio State in the 2021 recruiting class. Technically, the former 5-star prospect was involved in the QB battle that Stroud won as a redshirt freshman, and McCord has a slight leg-up in terms of experience heading into the offseason.

Sports Betting in Big Ten Country

With the launch coming on January 1, 2023, Ohio sports betting apps are almost here.

FanDuel is now giving users a $100 bonus for Ohio pre-registration. Go pre-register now.

21+ and present in OH. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

McCord has appeared in 12 games over the past two seasons and completed 41-of-58 passes for 606 yards, 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions to begin his career. His most extensive work came in the 2021 game against Akron when he started in place of Stroud with 319 passing yards and 2 touchdowns.

Meanwhile, Brown joined the Buckeyes as a 4-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class out of Utah. While Brown did see some action as a true freshman, he registered just 1 carry for a yard this season.

Lincoln Kienholz, a 4-star signee for the Buckeyes in the 2023 recruiting class, is also a player to watch, but he will likely be competing for reps behind Brown and McCord.

While Ohio State must adjust to the losses of Stroud, star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and some key offensive line pieces, the offense should still be in a solid position for the next QB to take over. Some of the key returners for next season include Marvin Harrison Jr., TreVeyon Henderson, Miyan Williams, Cade Stover, Emeka Egbuka and Matt Jones.

Now, it’s up to Ryan Day and new OC Brian Hartline to find the right guy under center to help Ohio State recapture the B1G in 2023.