Earlier this week Ohio State head coach Ryan Day refused to give reporters the satisfaction of naming a starting quarterback for this weekend’s highly anticipated game against USC.

“Both will be ready to play,” Day said regarding backup quarterbacks Luke Fahey and Tavien St. Clair. “Guys on the team have confidence that if both were put in the game, that they can do their job.”

Fahey, a three-star freshman from Mission Viejo, Calif., was the pick to fill in for the injured Julian Sayin in the Buckeyes’ narrow win over Indiana on Oct. 17. Fahey didn’t complete a pass (0 for 2) against the Hoosiers as Ohio State leaned on its defense to preserve the lead.

“Going into the last few games, Luke’s been ahead of Tavien, in terms of what we’ve seen,” Day said earlier this month. “That’s why he went in first. But now we have to come up for air and put together a plan.…