Stroud named starter at QB for No. 4 OSU

Freshman C.J. Stroud will start at quarterback for No. 4 Ohio State in the season opener against Minnesota, coach Ryan Day said Saturday.

Stroud, who had been the apparent leader in the quarterback derby since spring practice, was chosen over fellow secondyear player Jack Miller and true freshmen Kyle McCord and Quinn Ewers.

“Over the body of work between the spring and then also through preseason, (Stroud) separated himself with his decision-making, his leadership skills, his accuracy,” Day said. “Now, we got to go prepare to go play a game.”

Day wouldn’t say who would be next in line.

“The other guys in the room understand that this is a long season and that room has to be strong,” he said. “We know at Ohio State that it takes everybody in that room, so that room needs to continue to work. It’s a long way to January and that’s been the message. The focus has to continue to be about development, but also to encourage the other guys in that room.”

The 6-foot-3, 218-pound Stroud, from Rancho Cucamonga, California, played sparingly in mop-up duty last year behind Heisman-finalist Justin Fields in the pandemic-shortened season. He has yet to throw a pass in a college game.

“I think he knows that this is just an opportunity,” Day said.

Golf: Tapio Pulkkanen will take a two-stroke lead into the final round of the Czech Masters after a 6-under 66 on Saturday.

NFL: The Rams put punters Johnny Hekker and Corey Bojorquez on the COVID-19 list Saturday, leaving them without a punter available for their second preseason game.

Soccer: Jack Grealish marked his home debut for Manchester City by scoring the second goal in a 5-0 thrashing of Norwich, the heaviest win so far in a league campaign that is just halfway through its second round.