Louisville Adds New Dimension with Transfer QB Lincoln Kienholz

Ohio State backup brings athleticism and physicality to Cardinals' offense

Feb. 3, 2026 at 10:23pm

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When it became clear that Jeff Brohm and Louisville were going to be reaching back into the transfer portal to find their starting quarterback for the fourth consecutive season, not many tagged Ohio State backup Lincoln Kienholz as the top choice. Kienholz isn't as experienced as the three one-year rentals the Cards have had in Brohm's first three seasons, but he does have multiple seasons of eligibility remaining and has shown upside in limited playing time.

Why it matters

Brohm believes Kienholz will bring a dynamic the Louisville offense hasn't had since he returned to coach his alma mater — athleticism and physicality under center. With a physical ball-carrier at quarterback, Louisville is expected to run more read-options to pair Kienholz's legs with what is expected to be one of the best and most talented running back rooms in the country.

The details

In his first three seasons with Ohio State, the 6-foot-3, 214-pound quarterback completed 21 of 36 passes for 250 yards and one touchdown. Kienholz also ran the ball 17 times for 68 yards and two scores with the Buckeyes. This past fall, he made six appearances, including four Big Ten contests. A four-star quarterback out of T.F. Riggs (SD), Kienholz was a top-15 passer in the 2023 class and ranked by On3 as the 119th-best prospect overall.

  • Kienholz has been at Ohio State for the past three seasons.
  • Kienholz made six appearances, including four Big Ten contests, this past fall.

The players

Jeff Brohm

The head football coach at the University of Louisville.

Lincoln Kienholz

A junior quarterback who transferred from Ohio State to the University of Louisville.

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What they’re saying

“Lincoln brings us a dimension we have not had here before. He's a very good athlete.”

— Jeff Brohm, Head Football Coach

“He's done a great job, through a month, of leading our team. When I say he's a good athlete, he can run, and it shows up. When we do conditioning drills, he's in the front, that's of everybody. He wants to run the ball as well.”

— Jeff Brohm, Head Football Coach

“I think he has a good arm, just improving his ability to process, make good decisions, and be able to throw like an NFL quarterback is what we're going to work hard at. I think he's made good strides up until this point, and he's a willing learner.”

— Jeff Brohm, Head Football Coach

What’s next

The Louisville coaching staff will work to mold Kienholz and the other new faces in the quarterback room over the coming months as they prepare for the upcoming season.

The takeaway

With Kienholz's athleticism and physicality, Louisville's offense is expected to take on a new dynamic this season, potentially featuring more read-option plays to complement their talented running back group.