The Louisville Cardinals have made a decisive move in the college football transfer market, landing former Ohio State quarterback Lincoln Kienholz as their likely starter for the 2026 season. The announcement, made on January 3, 2026, marks a pivotal moment for both Kienholz and the Cardinals, who are looking to build on a solid 9-4 campaign and reignite their ACC Championship ambitions under head coach Jeff Brohm.
Kienholz, a 6-foot-2, 214-pound quarterback from Pierre, South Dakota, arrives in Louisville with two years of eligibility remaining. His journey to this new chapter has been anything but ordinary. As a highly touted four-star recruit out of T.F. Riggs High School, Kienholz was named the USA Today National High School Athlete of the Year in 2023, a testament to his prowess across football, baseball, and basketball. In high school, he led his football team to three consecutive state championships, throwing for 3,422 yards and 46 touchdowns as a senior and rushing for 1,435 yards and 24 more scores. His athletic versatility even caught the eye of Major League Baseball scouts, and he was described by Ohio State head coach Ryan Day as, "Just a tremendous athlete. You pick a sport, he can do it. He's like a four handicap [in golf]. He can hit the [baseball] out of the park. He was a major league baseball prospect. He can windmill dunk. He can do a lot of things."
Despite such a decorated prep career, Kienholz found himself buried on a crowded Ohio State depth chart after enrolling as the No. 194 overall prospect and No. 15 quarterback in the 2023 recruiting class. Over three seasons in Columbus, he appeared in a total of 12 games, serving primarily as a backup. His most significant action came in the 2025 season, when he completed 10 of 14 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing 11 times for 66 yards and two more scores. Across his Ohio State career, Kienholz threw for 250 yards and one touchdown, with a completion percentage of 58.3%—notably, he hit 78.6% of his passes in his final season with the Buckeyes. He also ran for a total of 68 yards and two touchdowns.
The 2025 season was a turning point for Kienholz. He battled Alabama transfer Julian Sayin for the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback job during the offseason and fall camp. Ultimately, Sayin, who would go on to become a Heisman Trophy finalist and lead Ohio State to a College Football Playoff berth, won the job. Kienholz, meanwhile, saw snaps as a running threat and backup, but with Sayin entrenched as the starter and the Buckeyes’ playoff run ending in a loss to the Miami Hurricanes, Kienholz faced a crossroads.
"My goal is to go to the NFL, and in order to do that, you've got to play," Kienholz told Bucknuts just before the Cotton Bowl. "I've had conversations with [head coach Ryan] Day and also with [quarterbacks coach Billy] Fessler a little bit about it ... I just have to continue to be a hard-working person. I guess on and off the field, where that's film or on the field, just pushing teammates and also just being that leader as well."
With the NCAA transfer portal opening on January 2, 2026, Kienholz wasted no time exploring his options. Programs across the country expressed interest, but Louisville and Cincinnati emerged as the primary contenders. The Cardinals, led by Jeff Brohm—a coach who himself had drawn interest from other programs but remained committed to Louisville—acted quickly. According to Pete Nakos of On3sports, "Louisville got Lincoln Kienholz on campus on Saturday and quickly wrapped up his recruitment." The fit was obvious: Brohm’s offense, known for its creativity and up-tempo approach, was in need of a dynamic quarterback, and Kienholz was seeking an opportunity to showcase his abilities on a big stage.
The timing couldn’t have been better for Louisville. The Cardinals had seen a significant exodus in the transfer portal, with 21 players departing and only one other transfer, Kentucky cornerback D.J. Waller, joining the roster before Kienholz. The quarterback room was thin—freshman Briggs Cherry was the only scholarship quarterback remaining after Deuce Adams, Brady Allen, and Mason Mims all transferred out. Kienholz’s arrival not only stabilizes the position but also injects a sense of optimism about the program’s trajectory.
Brohm’s Cardinals have quietly become one of the ACC’s most consistent programs, winning at least nine games in each of his three seasons at the helm—the first time Louisville has achieved such a feat since 2012-14. The 2025 team finished 9-4 overall, 4-4 in the ACC, and capped the year with a 27-22 victory over Toledo in the Boca Raton Bowl. Yet, the offense at times lacked the spark needed to contend for conference titles. With Kienholz’s combination of arm strength, mobility, and competitive fire, Louisville fans are hoping he’s the missing piece to elevate the Cardinals from bowl regulars to serious ACC contenders.
What can Louisville expect from their new signal-caller? While his college experience is limited, Kienholz’s high school numbers were eye-popping, and his brief stints at Ohio State showcased his efficiency and athleticism. His ability to make plays with both his arm and legs fits perfectly with Brohm’s offensive philosophy, which emphasizes versatility and adaptability. The Cardinals’ quarterback competition for 2026 appears all but settled, barring any late additions or surprises.
Of course, questions remain. Can Kienholz translate his high school dominance and flashes of brilliance at Ohio State into consistent production against ACC defenses? Will he quickly develop chemistry with a receiving corps that has seen turnover of its own? And how will he handle the pressure of being the presumed starter for a program with championship aspirations?
For now, the mood in Louisville is one of excitement and anticipation. With the transfer portal continuing to reshape college football rosters, Kienholz’s decision to don the Cardinal red could prove to be one of the offseason’s most consequential moves. As the 2026 season approaches, all eyes will be on Kienholz and Brohm to see if this new partnership can deliver the kind of success both have been chasing.
The Cardinals’ quarterback search may be over, but the real work is just beginning. The pieces are in place for a thrilling campaign, and Louisville fans can’t wait to see what their new quarterback has in store.