Let’s face it.

If Ohio State felt it needed any of the top quarterbacks sitting in the transfer portal, wouldn’t he already be in Columbus?

The Buckeyes will be any quarterback’s dream next season. As they have been in every season of Ryan Day’s tenure.

The combination of Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka and Cade Stover sells itself. There may not be a better set of targets in the entire country.

So, if Day felt he needed a transfer to replace CJ Stroud behind center, the Buckeyes would have that quarterback already in the fold.

Instead, the top quarterbacks to enter the portal this offseason have already gone elsewhere.

Sam Hartman is at Notre Dame. Devin Leary picked Kentucky. Hudson Card is heading to a Big Ten school — Purdue. Coastal Carolina’s Grayson McCall entered the portal only to decide that life is better near the beach. He’ll remain a Chanticleer.

None of those programs can provide a quarterback what Ohio State has to offer. So even though the position technically remains an unknown, the tea leaves are reading favorably for Kyle McCord. It’s increasingly evident that Day has full faith in Stroud’s incumbent backup.

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So does Vegas. FanDuel already has McCord available at 20-1 odds to win the next Heisman Trophy.

That’s a pretty heady number for a guy who is 41 of 58 for 606 yards with 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, primarily playing in garbage time. LSU’s Jayden Daniels has the same odds. Daniels accounted for 3,798 total yards and 28 combined touchdowns this past season as the Tigers surprisingly won the SEC West.

Freshman Devin Brown, who will compete with McCord for the starting job, is also on the board with 80-1 odds — the same number as the aforementioned Leary. Leary has thrown for 6,807 yards and 62 touchdowns in his career. Brown has 1 carry for 1 yard.

Ohio State is likely fine with what it has in-house. But the Buckeyes should at least be open to the possibility of adding a 3rd body who can compete for the job. After all, sometimes that 3rd body is actually needed to win a national title.

The following quarterbacks currently in the portal are worth that look. Though perhaps nothing more than a look.

Spencer Sanders, Oklahoma State

Sanders, a 4-year starter at Oklahoma State, is the most accomplished quarterback still searching for a new home. He will surpass 10,000 career passing yards and 2,000 career rushing yards at his next stop, wherever that may be.

Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles knows Sanders well, having practiced against Sanders daily for 3 of those 4 years when he was the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State. If he’s high on Sanders, Day certainly knows about it.

Then again, he might not be. Interceptions are an issue for Sanders, who has thrown 40 of them in his career. Ohio State quarterbacks have thrown 23 interceptions in that span.

Sam Huard, Washington

Huard, the son of former Huskies star quarterback Brock Huard, is leaving his dad’s alma mater thanks to being stuck behind Michael Penix Jr. on the depth chart.

That indicates Huard wants to go somewhere he can start in 2023, and Ohio State isn’t a place that can make such a guarantee to the former 4-star recruit. He bears mentioning due to his credentials, but it’s an unlikely fit given the probability he’d back up McCord.

Walker Howard, LSU

Another 4-star legacy quarterback who is leaving his dad’s alma mater. Maybe Howard is the player to be named later in the Joe Burrow trade?

Howard, who lost out to Daniels in LSU’s quarterback derby, has 4 years of eligibility remaining. Like Huard, he’d have to accept the possibility that he won’t be the guy next season. Which, again, makes for an unlikely fit.

One thing’s certain — Huard and Howard should not transfer to the same program. Their last names are too similar. No one will know which guy the coach is yelling at.

Post-spring QB, TBA

At this juncture, this outcome feels like the most likely scenario. The portal re-opens after depth charts shake out following spring practice. And spring ball will provide valuable insight into where McCord and Brown stand.

If Ohio State adds a quarterback after spring football, it’s probable that player wishes to be a backup at Ohio State over being a backup somewhere else.

Barring a twist, McCord and Brown appear to be Ohio State’s most likely quarterback options.