Julian Sayin knows the stakes. As Ohio State preps for a high-stakes Cotton Bowl clash with the Miami Hurricanes, the young quarterback isn’t shying away from what went wrong-or what needs to go right.
Coming off a 13-10 loss to Indiana, Sayin is shouldering the responsibility. That game marked his first real stumble in Columbus, and it started with a costly interception that set the tone early. Now, with a New Year’s Day showdown looming, Sayin is focused on the one thing that separates good quarterbacks from great ones: protecting the football.
“It’s gonna be on us to take care of the ball and not put our team in a bad situation,” Sayin told reporters this week. “I think taking care of the ball is going to be extremely important in this game.”
That’s not just lip service. For Sayin, the Indiana loss was a wake-up call-a reminder that even the most talented arms can’t outrun turnovers. The key now is recalibrating, letting the game come to him, and trusting the system that’s gotten him this far.
And that system? It’s anchored by Ryan Day.
Sayin was quick to credit his head coach for his development, calling Day a steady hand and a true teacher of the quarterback position. “It’s been great having him with us,” Sayin said.
“A great quarterback coach and developer, and someone who really teaches the position very well. We take so much from him.
Just brings the best out of us and pushes us to be the best.”
That mutual trust between coach and quarterback is going to be critical if the Buckeyes want to keep their postseason dreams alive. This isn’t just about bouncing back from one tough game-it’s about proving they still belong in the national title conversation.
The Cotton Bowl offers a clean slate and a big stage. And for Sayin, it’s a chance to show that the Indiana game was the exception, not the rule.
Mistake-free football isn’t just a goal-it’s the path forward. And with a trip to the semifinals on the line, there’s no better time to get back on track.