Julian Sayin knows exactly what Ohio State needs from him in 2026, and he’s putting the spotlight on the simplest answer of all: experience.
That was the word he kept circling back to during Media Day, and it wasn’t hard to see why. Sayin’s first season as the Buckeyes’ starter gave him a full year of lessons, and he believes that matters now more than anything else as he heads into year two leading the program.
“Julian Sayin has said one word much more than others during the first 15 minutes with the media: Experience. Sayin said there’s no substitute for experience, which he will lean on entering his second year with the Buckeyes - both on and off the field.”
Last season didn’t end the way Ohio State wanted. In the final two games, the Buckeyes managed just 24 combined points, and Sayin’s play wasn’t at the standard the program needs against top competition. He also seemed reluctant to take off and grab easy yards with his legs in those games, something he has already talked about correcting.
Now he’s stepping into a tougher year with a better sense of what the job demands. Sayin was a Heisman Finalist last season, and the loss against Indiana kept him from winning the award. That experience, too, is part of what he believes will sharpen him moving forward.
The challenge in front of him is real. Ohio State lost Carnell Tate, which leaves Jeremiah Smith without an established second receiver beside him. Smith is the best player in the country, but Sayin still needs another target he can trust so defenses can’t load up on one side and smother the passing game.
The Buckeyes are also asking more of the offense overall. With three first-round picks gone from the defense, this team is going to need Sayin and the offense to carry the load if it wants to win a national championship. If the talent shows up the way it should, Ohio State has the pieces to field the best offense in the country.
Ryan Day has already made it clear that the running back room has to be excellent for that to happen, and he doesn’t want Bo Jackson to have a sophomore slump. That kind of production would only make Sayin’s life easier and help him settle into the kind of quarterback Ohio State needs.
Sayin has also spent time getting stronger and improving his running ability. His accuracy was already a calling card last season, and that part of his game isn’t the concern. The bigger question is arm strength, and the work he’s done in the weight room is meant to help there.
For Sayin, the assignment is straightforward: take what he learned last year and turn it into steady production against a much harder schedule. Ohio State is counting on him to be at his best from start to finish, not just for the first 12 games.
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