Julian Sayin isn’t dodging the spotlight heading into the Cotton Bowl - he’s embracing it with the poise you want from your quarterback when the stakes get real. After a tough outing in the Buckeyes' narrow 13-10 loss to Indiana - the first real blemish on his resume in Columbus - Sayin is focused on one thing: protecting the football.
That Indiana game? It was a wake-up call.
Sayin threw a costly interception that helped set the tone for a game Ohio State couldn’t quite wrestle back. Now, with a New Year’s Day showdown against the Miami Hurricanes on deck, Sayin knows exactly what’s at stake - and what needs to change.
“It’s gonna be on us to take care of the ball and not put our team in a bad situation,” Sayin told reporters this week. “I think taking care of the ball is going to be extremely important in this game.”
That’s not just lip service. For a young quarterback with big expectations, learning how to manage the moment - especially after a rare misstep - is part of the growth curve.
Sayin’s not trying to play hero ball. He’s trying to play winning football, and that starts with trusting the system, trusting his teammates, and not forcing throws that don’t need to be made.
And if there’s one guy Sayin credits for helping him stay grounded and focused, it’s head coach Ryan Day. The relationship between quarterback and coach is everything in college football, and Sayin made it clear that Day has been instrumental in his development.
“It’s been great having him with us - a great quarterback coach and developer and someone who really teaches the position very well,” Sayin said. “We take so much from him. Just brings the best out of us and pushes us to be the best.”
That kind of mentorship matters, especially when you’re leading a program like Ohio State, where the pressure is constant and the expectations are sky-high. Sayin’s shown flashes of what makes him special - the arm talent, the composure, the ability to extend plays - but now it’s about stringing together complete performances when it counts most.
The Cotton Bowl isn’t just another game. It’s a chance for the Buckeyes to punch their ticket to the semifinals and keep their national title hopes alive. For Sayin, it’s an opportunity to bounce back, to show he’s learned from the Indiana loss, and to lead a team that still has everything in front of them.
Mistake-free football isn’t just a goal - it’s the standard. And Sayin sounds like a quarterback ready to meet it.