Devin Brown, the quarterback for Ohio State who has been Will Howard’s main backup throughout the season, won a national title on Monday. He formally decided to transfer to Cal on Tuesday, agreeing to play for the ACC program.
After the regular season, Brown declared his intention to transfer, but he chose to remain with the Buckeyes for the duration of the College Football Playoff run. This choice ultimately paid off, as Ohio State defeated Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame to win the inaugural 12-team CFP.
On Tuesday afternoon, Cal did not waste any time in welcoming the recently crowned national champion to the Golden Bears.
As a backup to Kyle McCord and Howard for the past two seasons, Brown, a four-star athlete from Utah’s Corner Canyon High School in the 2022 recruiting class, ends his Ohio State career with 331 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. He will now face Oregon transfer Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele for a starting position in the ACC.
Bryan Harsin, the former head coach of Boise State and Auburn, was just appointed offensive coordinator by Cal coach Justin Wilcox. The Golden Bears, who finished 6–7 and lost to UNLV in the LA Bowl, are coming off an extremely exciting inaugural season in the ACC. After throwing for 3,004 yards, 16 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 2024, quarterback Fernando Mendoza transferred to Indiana.
With Howard expected to leave, Julian Sayin, a former Alabama transfer who played his first season with the Buckeyes in 2024, and five-star 2025 signee Tavien St. Clair will probably compete for Ohio State’s starting quarterback position. This season, Sayin threw for 84 yards and a score.