Ohio State freshman Luke Fahey could make his first college start against USC on Saturday, bringing a longstanding family connection to the Buckeyes back to Southern California. With Julian Sayin out indefinitely because of an injury to his throwing arm, coach Ryan Day has yet to choose between Fahey and sophomore Tavien St. Clair for the game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Fahey won the backup job over St. Clair during preseason camp and took over when Sayin was hurt in the fourth quarter at Indiana two weeks ago. Entering on second-and-28, he ran for 8 yards and drew a late-hit penalty that secured a first down. He completed neither of his two passes, but Ohio State preserved a 19-15 win. Day praised his confidence, athleticism and competitive approach, saying the situation did not appear to overwhelm him.
For Fahey's father, Stephen, a start would carry particular meaning. On New Year's Day in 1971, he attended the Rose Bowl to watch Ohio State and his favorite quarterback, Rex Kern. Stanford, led by Heisman Trophy winner Jim Plunkett, won 27-17. Fifty-five years later, Stephen plans to watch from the Coliseum as his own son potentially leads the Buckeyes.
The family's Ohio State history began well before that Rose Bowl. Luke's great-grandfather, Edward Gorman, enrolled in 1898 and met his first wife there. Her brother, Walter "Rink" Barrington, played quarterback for Ohio State from 1906 through 1908. Gorman later remarried and died when his daughter Rosemary, Stephen's mother, was 2. Buckeyes football remained part of family life through games heard on the living room radio.
Rosemary eventually attended Ohio State, where she met Robert, Stephen's father, a Korean War veteran. Both worked in the university library and married in 1958. After earning an engineering degree, Robert accepted a job in California, where Stephen was born. Stephen grew up supporting Ohio State and passed that loyalty to Luke. He remembers watching the Buckeyes win the national championship following the 2014 season with his then 7-year-old son.
At Mission Viejo, Luke helped his team win a state championship as a sophomore and finished his high school career with more than 7,000 passing yards. His coach, Chad Johnson, ranks him above other quarterbacks he has coached, including Josh Rosen and DJ Uiagalelei. Johnson allowed Luke to call every play in 7-on-7 competition before his senior season. That fall, Luke regularly adjusted plays, protections and routes at the line of scrimmage.
Fahey stands 5-foot-11, the same height as Kern, but drew recruiting interest from Stanford and Indiana before Ohio State offered him a scholarship. During the family's recruiting visit to Columbus, they saw Rosemary's childhood home and relatives' graves. In a meeting at Day's office, the coach emphasized Luke's work ethic and record of winning despite his height and lack of a five-star recruiting rating.
Day has continued to highlight those qualities. "He has a moxie about him," the coach said. "He has a competitiveness about him." For Stephen, Saturday also offers a chance to reflect on what his parents would have made of their grandson's opportunity. Robert died 34 years ago, and Rosemary died in 2020. Neither lived to see Luke add his own chapter to the family's Ohio State story.
