Julian Sayin has started to look like a quarterback who belongs in the national spotlight.
Over the last few games, with wins over Illinois and Kent State, the Ohio State signal-caller has been sharp, decisive and increasingly comfortable attacking down the field. He’s been finding different receivers with confidence, and that kind of rhythm is exactly why his name is starting to come up in Heisman conversations.
Sayin is in his second season as Ohio State’s starting quarterback, and the results have been steady. Last year, he put together a strong campaign with 3,610 passing yards, a 77% completion rate and 32 touchdowns. His ability to read the field and make the right decision on throws has been a major part of what separates him.
That showed up in Ohio State’s Big Ten opener against Illinois, when Sayin put together one of his best outings yet. He carved up the Fighting Illini for 5 total TDs, finishing 27/36 for 367 passing yards, 4 passing touchdowns, 27 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown and 0 interceptions. Last week, he posted the best BIG 10 passing grade at 92.1 against Illinois.
What also helps his case is how he handles the job when things go sideways. Earlier this year, Ohio State led No. 1-ranked Texas 23-3 in the fourth quarter before collapsing in a 24-23 loss. Sayin has been willing to own poor play and say he needs to be better, and that accountability is part of his makeup.
Head coach Ryan Day has pushed him, too. A few games ago against Kent State, Day challenged Sayin to use his playmaking ability more and extend plays with his legs. Sayin, according to the source, embraces that kind of coaching and wants it that way.
The Heisman buzz isn’t coming out of nowhere. Last year, Sayin finished 4th overall in the race as a Heisman finalist alongside Fernando Mendoza, who won it, Diego Pavia, who finished second, and Jeremyiah Love, who came in third. Doing that as a sophomore was a major accomplishment, especially after stepping into the role following Will Howard after Ohio State’s National Championship win over 34-23 in 2024.
Ohio State has one loss this season, and it came against Texas. From here, the focus is simple: keep winning and avoid another finish like that one.
Sayin is currently second in the BIG 10 in passing yards, and the next test comes this weekend against Iowa. In a tough road environment, he’ll have another chance to show whether this hot streak can keep building.
In Other News...
Ohio State Suddenly Has A Lineup Decision That Could Spark Debate
Ryan Day still has one key offensive line question to sort out as Ohio State works through the week, and it centers on injured right tackle Phillip Daniels. Day did not offer an update on Daniels, but he made it clear the Buckeyes will wait to see how Daniels progresses before settling on the starting lineup, a process that could shape how the line looks heading into the next stretch.
In Daniels absence, Gabe VanSickle has held up well at right guard and helped the front continue to play at a high level. That leaves Ohio State with a familiar kind of dilemma: if Daniels is close to returning, the staff has to balance the value of getting a veteran back in the mix against the way the current group has been performing, and that decision is still very much open. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Has A Real Shot To Shake Up The Big Ten Again
Iowa arrives in Columbus with a little more belief than most visiting teams carry into a top-five matchup. The No. 14 Hawkeyes just jolted the Big Ten race with an upset of Michigan, and now they get another chance to test themselves against No. 5 Ohio State. Hank Brown has given Iowa a steady hand at quarterback, showing enough poise under pressure to make the Hawkeyes a real threat if the game tightens up late.
For Ohio State, the timing makes this one feel bigger than a routine conference showdown. Ryan Day has already acknowledged the challenge, and the Buckeyes know how much a win would matter for momentum as the season moves deeper into the stretch. The bigger question is whether Ohio States defense can settle in quickly enough to keep Iowa from turning this into another statement night for a program that has already shaken up the league once. [Read more 🡒]
Jeremiah Smith Is Giving Ohio State Fans Even Bigger Expectations
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His latest eruption only sharpened that feeling, even before the stat sheet fully settled in. Smith put together a performance that pushed his season ceiling in a major way and had the Buckeyes thinking bigger about what his role can become as the schedule grows tougher, with his recent production now setting a bar that will be hard to miss for the rest of the fall. [Read more 🡒]