On Wednesday night, Ohio State was on the wrong side of a surprising upset loss when it fell to Miami in the quarterfinals of the college football playoffs. With their hopes for a second straight championship and season officially over, the program must look to avoid more losses in the transfer portal.
Unfortunately, a notable one came early on Thursday when Pete Nakos of On3 broke the news that backup QB Lincoln Keinholz will take his talents elsewhere in 2026 after failing to beat out Heisman Trophy contender Julian Sayin for the starting job in the summer.
Keinholz is sure to get interest from various programs from around the country. Especially because of his reputation as a strong leader. With that in mind, let’s look at five schools that could target the junior, including Penn State.
Miami Hurricanes
Miami spent big money to land Georgia legend Carson Beck in the transfer portal last year. So far, it has paid off because he has helped lead them to the semifinals of the CFP and beat Ohio State. They could spend big again in the portal, or maybe they aim for a more affordable option in the mold of Beck, like Kienholz. If they win a championship this month, it might make them more willing to take a chance on a less proven player.
Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State will look to replace transfer Drew Allar this year. It would not be a surprise if new head coach Matt Campbell looks to bring his starter at Iowa State this year, Rocco Becht, with him to the Nittany Lions. However, Lincoln Kienholz could be an intriguing option as well.
He comes from a top program and was beaten out for a starting job by one of the best QBs in the country this season. Plus, luring him away from a top rival would be a bonus.
USF Bulls
USF got hit with a major loss to the transfer portal when star QB Byrum Brown decided to take his talents elsewhere. It’s a rough way to start for new head coach Brian Hartline. However, it would not be surprising at all if the former OSU offensive coordinator turned to Lincoln Keinholz in the portal.
He knows his strengths and weaknesses as well as anyone, but also his value in the locker room. Being an extension of the coach’s new culture change would make him a valuable addition for the Bulls.
Missouri Tigers
The Missouri Tigers had a rock-solid season this year with the help of veteran QB Beau Pribula. However, he is one of several notable QBs entering this week’s transfer portal. Replacing that sort of experience and leadership will be tough.
However, Keinholz developed a reputation at Ohio State for great leadership and unifying qualities. It is a major reason why he remained in a battle with Sayin for the starting job late into the summer. That matched with his player potential could make him a great acquisition for the Tigers.
Nebraska
One of the biggest surprises in the transfer portal is the addition of QB Dylan Raiola. The stud prospect’s exit will be a big loss for Nebraska. However, the team did not reach the heights they hoped with him leading the way. Maybe going for a more experienced talent from a winning program with a dual-threat skillset like Keinholz would be a better way for the Cornhuskers to go at QB in 2026.
