FILE - Ohio State quarterback Lincoln Kienholz carries the ball during an NCAA college football game against Rutgers, Nov. 22, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)
In the world of college football, a move from Ohio State to Lousiville can be considered by many a step down. For former Pierre Governor quarterback Lincoln Kienholz, it is the ultimate step up. Kienholz, who transferred to Louisville after Ohio State’s somewhat shocking loss to Miami in the College Football Playoff, knew he needed to go somewhere his talents would shine. He landed with the Cardinals, and yesterday, he was announced as their day one starter.
Kienholz saw field time for the Buckeyes, but it was mainly on special goal line packages where Ryan Day would put Kienholz 6’2″, 215-pound frame to good use. Or when the Buckeyes held a convincing lead and he would be called in for mop-up duty. But there’s one trait that almost all football players have within that Kienholz wasn’t getting, guys just want to play. Among many different suitors in the portal, Louisville promised Kienholz that opportunity, and Cardinal head coach Jeff Brohm sold Lincoln on the vision of him running his offense.
It was certainly no surprise to see Kienholz named as the Cardinal starter, a 4-star recruit ranked 11th in his position out of high school, Kienholz would start in almost every offense in the country, including the then reigning National Champion Buckeyes who had a neck-and-neck competition that ultimately saw one of the top players in the country in Julian Sayin get the nod. Now, Kienholz assumes the leadership position, and he leaned on another Buckeye quarterback to help him make his decision.
Kienholz called up Kyle McCord, who played at Ohio State from 2021 to 2023 to seek his advice on a transfer to a smaller school and less dominant conference like the ACC. Whatever was said made Lincoln’s decision easier, however, surely the factor of playing time was at the forefront. “You got Miami. You got Louisville,” Kienholz said. “Just different teams like that, where I think there’s a lot of talent, but they just kind of go under the radar a little bit.” Louisville and Kienholz quote almost perfectly emulates the QB who comes from one of the smallest capitols in the country, Pierre, playing in one of the smallest high school football leagues in the country for the Governors. But in a small town came huge success as he led the Governors to multiple State Championships, and hopes to bring more success to Louisville’s program.
The Cardinals won 7 of their first 8 games in 2025, including one of the biggest upsets of the college football season taking down #2 Miami in their building. However, they ran out of gas losing three of their final four before beating Toledo in the Bush’s Boca Raton Bowl. With the College Football Playoff welcoming 12-teams, Kienholz almost certainly feels like he can lift this team to competing for a National Championship.
Louisiville will open the 2026 season on Sunday, September 6th against another playoff team in the Ole Miss Rebels. An opportunity for Kienholz to make an opening and lasting imprint on the college football world.
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