Luke Montgomery didn’t just notice Julian Sayin’s legs against Illinois. He gave them a nickname.
After Ohio State’s 42-19 win at the “Shoe” last weekend, the Buckeyes left guard started calling his quarterback “Money Manziel Julian” after Sayin broke free for a seven-yard touchdown run in the second quarter - the kind of play that might have been tossed away in another version of his game.
Montgomery made it clear he thinks defenses need to treat Sayin differently now.
“For a guy to put his body on the line, as a quarterback, that’s the utmost respect,” Montgomery said. “Defenses are going to have to start having a game plan for Money Manziel Julian.”
That’s the message Montgomery wants out there, and it makes sense. Sayin’s real damage still comes through the air, where he has Jeremiah Smith to feed. Smith turned in a huge day against Illinois with 217 receiving yards and four touchdown catches, the kind of explosion that keeps Ohio State’s passing game at the center of everything.
But the Buckeyes are headed on the road for the first time this season Saturday against Iowa, and Sayin will need to keep doing more than just living off his arm. He’ll have to keep making plays when Smith isn’t available.
That matters because Ohio State still has some offensive holes to patch. Against Power 4 competition, Bo Jackson and Ja’Kobi Jackson have both flashed, but neither has settled into the kind of unmistakable lead role that forces defenses to lose sleep.
Bo Jackson, who was expected to be one of the Big Ten’s best backs this year, has looked more like part of a committee. Ja’Kobi Jackson, the Florida transfer, has brought hustle and a surprise factor, but the room still doesn’t have that clear-cut centerpiece.
That’s where Sayin’s added mobility could change the math. If he can help carry some of that load - the way Johnny Football once did - Ohio State becomes a much harder offense to pin down.
Right now, the Buckeyes are still missing that unpredictable edge in Arthur Smith’s offense. Sayin’s ability to run has shown up more as an escape hatch than an attacking weapon, a way to avoid the rush instead of punishing defenses for overcommitting.
And if Montgomery wants the nickname to stick, the people up front have to make it possible.
Manziel’s Heisman run as a redshirt freshman came with elite protection. Sayin won’t get to cash in on that comparison unless his offensive line keeps opening the door.
Week 4 offered a good first step. Joshua Padilla stood out in his 43 offensive snaps, and Austin Siereveld showed noticeable improvement at right tackle after being pushed into the spot following Philip Daniels’ injury.
That kind of progress has to hold as the schedule brings more tests like Texas. Every part of the offense feeds the next. Sayin only gets freer when the line holds up, and the backs become more dangerous when the chains keep moving and the third downs start getting converted.
There’s reason for optimism. Now it’s on Sayin to live up to the label his left guard just dropped on him.
“Money Manziel” is no small comparison.
In Other News...
Ohio State Just Delivered The Kind Of Road Win Fans Needed
Ohio State went into Kinnick Stadium and delivered the sort of response win its fans had been waiting for, beating Iowa 31-14 and handing the Hawkeyes their first loss of the season. The Buckeyes controlled the game on both sides of the ball, piling up 484 total yards while keeping Iowa to 238 and a paltry 39 rushing yards, which made this feel less like a tense road test and more like a statement about the gap between the two teams.
Jeremiah Smith was at the center of it, turning the trip into one of those performances that travels well beyond the box score. He finished with 11 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns, giving Ohio State a dynamic edge whenever it needed one and helping offset a couple of turnovers forced by the defense. For a team that needed a clean, convincing road result, this was exactly the kind of night it was looking for. [Read more 🡒]
Jeremiah Smith Just Put Ohio State Fans On Notice Again
Jeremiah Smith kept the Buckeyes moving in Iowa City, turning a road test against the Hawkeyes into another showcase for Ohio States passing game. The freshman wideout tied the Ohio State touchdown record while finishing with 11 catches for 206 yards and two scores, a performance that helped push the Buckeyes to a 4-1 start and add another layer to what has already become a must-watch season in Columbus.
Smiths latest breakout only raises the stakes for what comes next, because Ohio State now heads back home to face Maryland with its young star drawing even more attention. For a team that has spent the early part of the season trying to establish its identity, his ability to create production anywhere on the field has become one of the biggest reasons the Buckeyes keep looking like a contender. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Just Earned The Big Ten Spot Fans Wanted Most
Week 5 brought a clearer picture of the Big Ten race, and Ohio State came out of it looking like the conference team fans expected to see at the top. The Buckeyes handled Iowa in a game that carried more weight than a typical early-season road test, adding a quality win to a rsum that is starting to separate from the pack as the league standings and the national picture begin to take shape.
The rankings around them still have plenty of movement left, with Indiana continuing to push forward, Oregon and UCLA drawing attention for different reasons, and Michigan still trying to sort out its own path. But Ohio States recent momentum is the kind that can hold up as October approaches, especially if the Buckeyes keep matching style points with results in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]