Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin is heading into 2026 with a number that looks impressive on paper and a spotlight that comes with a lot more pressure than praise. Pro Football Focus has him at 92.9, the top grade among all returning quarterbacks. But the film, as the reporting makes clear, tells a more complicated story.
Sayin’s best stretches came against the weaker teams on Ohio State’s schedule, and that’s where he piled up much of the production that helped lift his rating. When the Buckeyes faced their three toughest opponents, though, Sayin had a rougher time, and Ohio State couldn’t fully cover for it.
That split has created two very different versions of the quarterback. There’s the Wisconsin Sayin, the one who looks locked in and nearly impossible to rattle. And then there’s the Miami Sayin, the version that comes off hesitant, gun shy and unsure of himself.
Ohio State needs the first one in 2026-27. Sayin needs it too, because the NFL Draft conversation will be waiting, and his smaller stature means he’ll already have an uphill climb. If he’s pinpoint accurate and operating with total command, that concern fades fast.
The Buckeyes have even bigger reasons to want that version of him. They’re aiming at a national championship next season, and the path there won’t be easy. Ohio State will have to survive a demanding regular season before taking on a four-game run to the title game.
Sayin will be tested by top-level competition, and this time he won’t have the benefit of two immediate first-round picks around him like he did last year. The margin for error gets smaller from here.
The road is long, and the Buckeyes need Sayin to be sharp every week. If he is, 2026-27 in Columbus could turn into something special.
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Which Ohio State 5-Star Could Matter First For The Buckeyes Defense
Ohio States 2027 recruiting class already has a star-heavy look, and the Buckeyes are expecting all three of their committed five-stars to get on the field early. Marcus Fakatou, DJ Jacobs and Jamier Brown each bring a different kind of upside, but the conversation around immediate help on defense naturally starts with the players who can fill the most urgent needs.
Jacobs, an edge defender with the kind of frame and burst that make him an obvious pass-rush candidate, appears best positioned to matter first. He and Fakatou both line up at spots where depth is thinner, which gives them a clearer path to meaningful snaps once they arrive, and it is easy to see why Ohio State would want that kind of athleticism ready sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Offense Is Already Being Framed As USCs Biggest Test
The buildup to Ohio States trip to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum already has the feel of a measuring-stick game, even before the calendar flips to Oct. 31. It will be the first time the Buckeyes and USC meet as Big Ten opponents, and the spotlight naturally falls on an Ohio State offense that brings back Julian Sayin at quarterback, Bo Jackson in the backfield and Jeremiah Smith out wide, a trio that gives the Buckeyes the kind of firepower most opponents spend all week trying to contain.
USC has made its own defensive changes, bringing in Gary Patterson, but the Trojans still have a demanding run of games ahead before Ohio State arrives. The Buckeyes, meanwhile, are also adjusting to new voices on their staff with Matt Patricia taking over as defensive coordinator and Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator, which only adds another layer to a matchup that already looks like one of the early tests of the Big Ten season. [Read more 🡒]
Jeremiah Smith Is Making Ohio States WR Mount Rushmore Uncomfortable
Jeremiah Smith has spent just two seasons making Ohio States wide receiver hierarchy look a little less settled than it used to. Entering his junior year in 2026, he already owns first-team All-American honors in each of his first two seasons, and his production has pushed him into the Buckeyes career top 10 in receptions, yards and touchdowns while putting several school marks squarely in view.
Smiths rise has been fast enough to force an uncomfortable conversation around the programs greatest pass catchers, the kind of discussion usually reserved for names like Cris Carter, David Boston, Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson and Marvin Harrison Jr. With 163 catches, 2,558 yards and 27 touchdowns already on the books, he is not just part of that debate anymore. He is starting to define where it goes next. [Read more 🡒]