Ohio State's Julian Sayin Gets Tough Message Before Spring Football
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Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin had a successful season as a starter.
Stepping into the shoes of Will Howard, who won a national championship in 2024, Sayin threw for 3,610 yards, 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions, helping to lead the Buckeyes to the College Football Playoff.
Sayin struggled against better competition at the end of the season. He threw for 258 yards, one touchdown and one interception in a 13-10 loss to Indiana in the Big Ten championship.
Sayin threw for 287 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in OSU's 24-14 loss to Miami in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Cotton Bowl.
Expectations for Sayin should be higher in the upcoming season.
ESPN's Bill Connelly ranked Sayin as the No. 2 best Power 4 quarterback behind Notre Dame's CJ Carr. But he suggested the "training wheels" needed to come off for Sayin to elevate Ohio State.
"In 2026, the training wheels must come off," Connelly wrote. "Sayin is absurdly accurate, and he still has Jeremiah Smith, probably the single-most talented player in the country, out wide to catch his passes.
"His line is experienced, his run game should be good — which is good because, like Carr, he doesn't contribute much with his legs — and Ohio State is going to win tons of games again. Will they win the right ones this time?"
Ohio State has a challenging schedule in 2026, which could benefit the young quarterback before the team plays in the postseason. Connelly thinks that could work in Sayin's favor.
"Maybe a rough schedule will help the Buckeyes out a bit; they travel to Texas and Indiana, then welcome Oregon (and, of course, Michigan) in November, so maybe they'll actually get a bit more close-game experience this fall," he wrote.
"It's the only thing Sayin lacks."
Ohio State will have one tune-up game before it travels to Texas to take on star quarterback Arch Manning. The Buckeyes will host Ball State on Sept. 5.
Sayin was more of a game manager last season. To compete for a title, he'll have to win big games against stronger defenses.
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