COLUMBUS – Ohio State coach Luke Fickell said Thursday that freshman quarterback Braxton Miller will make the first start of his career when the 2-1 Buckeyes face Colorado (1-2) here Saturday.

Miller had been sharing quarterback duties with senior Joe Bauserman, who started Ohio State’s first three games this season. Fickell said earlier this week that Miller would compete with Bauserman for the starting role, in the wake of Ohio State’s 24-6 loss at Miami.

Bauserman is 30 of 60 passing this season for 365 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. Miller is 10-of-16 passing this season for 152 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. He did not play in the second game of the season against Toledo while dealing with a minor injury.

Miller (6-3, 210) led Huber Heights Wayne to the Ohio Division I state title game last season when he passed for 2,167 yards and 17 touchdowns, while also rushing for another 658 yards and 17 additional touchdowns.

Miller's first start comes in the fourth game of his career, the same timing and progression former Buckeye Terrelle Pryor made as a freshman at OSU in 2008.

First Published September 22, 2011, 5:34 p.m.