Julian Sayin vs. Carson Beck: Two Quarterbacks, One Cotton Bowl, and a Shot at CFP Glory
ARLINGTON, Texas - There’s something poetic about the College Football Playoff stage bringing together two quarterbacks who’ve already tasted the championship experience - just not as the guy in charge. That’s about to change. Julian Sayin and Carson Beck are both stepping into the spotlight, not as backups or understudies, but as the leaders of their own title-chasing squads.
For Beck, now under center for Miami, this is the culmination of a long, winding college football journey. And for Sayin, Ohio State’s freshman phenom, it’s the start of what could be a defining era in Columbus.
Beck’s Full-Circle Moment
Carson Beck’s college football story has been anything but linear. After five seasons at Georgia - a run that included two national titles and a front-row seat to Stetson Bennett’s rise - Beck is now trying to write his own championship chapter with the No. 10 Hurricanes (11-2), who are making their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance.
“Obviously to be a part of a championship team and then lead a championship team are two totally different things,” Beck said. “It’s everything that I’ve ever worked for.”
And he’s not exaggerating. Beck’s time at Georgia saw him bide his time behind Bennett, with his only playoff snaps coming in the final moments of that 65-7 blowout win over TCU.
When he finally got his shot as the Bulldogs’ starter in 2023, he delivered an undefeated regular season - only to see the team fall short in the SEC title game against Alabama. That loss kept Georgia out of the final four-team CFP, and worse, Beck suffered an elbow injury in the SEC championship game that required surgery and sidelined him for the postseason.
After transferring to Miami, Beck couldn’t even throw during spring practice. But he’s battled back - and then some.
“It’s been an unreal journey, honestly,” Beck said. “Nobody knows half the story of the things that I’ve had to go through and the adversities I’ve had to face and push through. But for this full-circle moment... it’s meant the world to me.”
He’s made the most of the opportunity. Beck is now 35-5 as an FBS starter - that .875 winning percentage is the best among active quarterbacks with at least five starts.
He also just notched his first CFP win, leading Miami past Texas A&M in the opening round on Dec. 20.
And it’s not just his numbers that are turning heads.
“He’s just amazing as a quarterback,” said Miami All-America tackle Francis Mauigoa. “Not only as a quarterback, but as a friend in the locker room, too.”
Sayin Steps Into the Spotlight
On the other side of the Cotton Bowl is a quarterback who’s already been part of a title run - but is just getting started as a starter. Julian Sayin, the five-star freshman at Ohio State, took over this season after backing up Will Howard during last year’s championship campaign.
“Growing up, I always wanted to play on the biggest stage,” Sayin said. “It’s been awesome... just developing and gaining confidence throughout each week and just building that into the next week.”
Sayin’s path to Columbus was a whirlwind. He originally signed with Alabama in December 2023 and even started classes in Tuscaloosa before entering the transfer portal and landing at Ohio State. From there, he impressed throughout spring ball and quickly earned the respect of one of the nation’s top receivers.
“A special, special quarterback, best in the country to me,” said Buckeyes All-America wideout Jeremiah Smith. “Can make any and every throw, just is precise with everything. Probably the smartest person I’ve ever been around.”
Sayin didn’t just win the job - he took control of the Buckeyes’ offense with poise and precision. He spent last season learning from Howard, and that experience clearly paid off.
“Seeing (Howard), the way he prepared last year in the playoffs, and was able to play his best football when it mattered the most,” Sayin said. “As a quarterback, and as coach (Ryan) Day says, the best players are their best in the biggest games.”
Now it’s Sayin’s turn. The Cotton Bowl marks his first CFP start, coming just a few weeks after his only loss as a starter - a Big Ten title game defeat to No.
1 Indiana. Even in that loss, Sayin was efficient, completing 21 of 29 passes for 258 yards, a touchdown and one interception.
Accuracy Kings
If there’s one stat that jumps off the page heading into this Cotton Bowl showdown, it’s this: Sayin and Beck are the two most accurate passers in the FBS this season.
Sayin has completed a staggering 78.4% of his passes - 279 completions on 356 attempts - for 3,323 yards, 31 touchdowns and just six interceptions. That’s not just precision, that’s surgical.
Beck isn’t far behind, hitting on 74.5% of his throws (277 of 372) for 3,175 yards, 26 touchdowns and 10 picks. He’s on pace to obliterate Miami’s single-season completion percentage record.
For context, the NCAA single-season record is 77.45%, set by Bo Nix at Oregon in 2023. Sayin is currently ahead of that mark.
What’s at Stake
This Cotton Bowl matchup is more than just a CFP quarterfinal - it’s a showcase of two quarterbacks at very different points in their careers, but both with the same goal: to lead their team to a national title.
Beck is the seasoned veteran, finally getting his shot after years in the shadows. Sayin is the rising star, already commanding one of college football’s most storied programs with the poise of a senior.
One is chasing the storybook ending. The other is just beginning to write his.
And come New Year’s Eve in Arlington, one of them will take the next step toward a championship - not as a backup, not as a contributor, but as the guy.