Reliving Ohio State QB Julian Sayin's Best Performances of the 2025 Regular Season
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Redshirt freshman quarterback Julian Sayin had the biggest shoes to fill in all of college football in 2025. He came into the season taking over for former quarterback Will Howard, who became a Buckeyes legend over the course of a month's time.
Howard will be remembered for leading the Buckeyes through the hardest stretch of football, probably ever, to earn a National Championship and bring a title back to Columbus. His departure opened the door for someone to take over and make their imprint in Ohio State history.
The man who took advantage of that chance would be Sayin. After transferring from Alabama, he spent his redshirt season under Howard, learning the ropes. Then, on Aug 30, he took the reins and became the guy in Columbus.
His journey so far? Pretty good.
On the year, he has 3,323 yards, 31 touchdowns to just six interceptions. He had nearly a flawless season with just one slip-up in the Big Ten Championship game last week.
For Sayin's efforts, he has a chance to hoist the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night. Before the name is read, we look back at Sayin's best three games of the 2025 regular season.
3. Ohio State – 34 Wisconsin – 0
Sayin was fresh off his worst statistical performance of the season, but one of Ohio State's biggest wins to that point. He threw for just 166 yards the week before against Illinois in the Buckeyes blowout win, and Ohio State was faced with a trap game against the struggling Wisconsin Badgers.
Sayin responded with a sparkling performance. He finished the game 36-42 for 393 yards and four touchdowns. He spread the ball all over the field with incredible precision and accuracy. The Buckeyes’ wide receivers were no match for the Badgers' secondary. Sayin stole the show that Saturday, and it was his first real jaw-dropping performance.
2. Ohio State – 38 Penn State – 10
Ohio State had nearly a perfect first half against Penn State this year until running back CJ Donaldson fumbled the football on the first carry of the Buckeyes' two-minute drive. The Nittany Lions scooped it up and set themselves up with a first and goal from in tight near the goalline. They punched in a touchdown, and the Buckeyes held a tight 17-14 lead at the break.
How would Sayin respond to the first little bit of adversity? Perfectly.
Sayin finished the day 20-23 for 316 yards and four touchdowns as the Buckeyes pulled away from the Nittany Lions. His 87 percent completion percentage that day was second only to his 18-19 day against the Grambling State Tigers in Week 2.
1. Ohio State – 27 Michigan – 9
The noise was loud heading into this matchup. Would the boogie man that is the Michigan Wolverines have Ohio State's number, or would the Buckeyes have enough this year to finish off a perfect regular season?
Sayin's start couldn't have been worse and the pressure intensified.
He was intercepted on his second throw of the day, and the Buckeyes actually trailed 6-3 after the first quarter against the Wolverines. Then, Sayin settled in and started ripping the football all over the field. He finished the game 19-26 for 233 yards and three touchdowns to just one interception.
He was special and he ended the Buckeyes' losing streak to the Wolverines.
It is unlikely that Sayin will win the Heisman Trophy award on Saturday night, but that doesn't take away from his special season.
He was great in his first year as the Buckeyes quarterback and now has his eyes set on repeating as the National Champions in late January.
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