When you turn on the tape of the Ohio State Buckeyes, your eyes naturally go to the quarterback. That’s just how it works in football-everything flows through the guy under center. And with Julian Sayin, it doesn’t take long to see why he’s become the heartbeat of this Buckeyes team.
Sure, the physical tools are there. Sayin has the arm talent, the accuracy, and the processing speed to make scouts sit up in their chairs. But what’s really made his first season as a starter so compelling isn’t just what he does with the ball-it’s what he does when things don’t go according to plan.
At just 20 years old, Sayin has already shown a level of poise and maturity that quarterbacks years older still struggle to reach. The numbers are impressive on their own-nearly 80% completion rate, 3,323 yards, 31 touchdowns against just six interceptions-but they only tell part of the story. What separates Sayin is how he handles the moments that don’t show up on a stat sheet.
Think back to the Penn State game. The Buckeyes were clinging to a three-point lead in the second half, and the offense needed a spark.
Sayin delivered. Or the Rutgers game, where he was missing both of his starting wide receivers-he didn’t flinch.
And then there was The Game against Michigan, where Ohio State got off to a rocky start. Sayin didn’t panic.
He responded, and he responded big.
Those are the moments that define a quarterback. Not just the clean pockets and wide-open throws, but the chaos.
The adversity. And Sayin has met those moments head-on.
Miami head coach Mario Cristobal certainly took notice. When asked about Sayin ahead of the upcoming Cotton Bowl, Cristobal didn’t hold back: “He does not look like a young guy playing the position. He looks like a guy that’s been there for a long time that has complete control of the offense.”
That kind of praise, especially from an opposing coach, speaks volumes. Because gaining control of an offense-true control-isn’t something that happens overnight.
It takes trust. First from your teammates, then from your coaches.
Only then do you get the keys to the car.
Sayin’s journey this season has been all about earning that trust. Early on, the Buckeyes kept things tight, guiding him through the opener against Texas.
But as the season wore on, they let him take the reins. And he’s grown into the role with every snap.
The quarterback who lined up against the Longhorns in August? He’s barely recognizable compared to the one who battled Indiana down the stretch.
Is he a finished product? No.
But he doesn’t need to be. What he is right now is a quarterback who’s proven he can lead, who’s proven he can adapt, and who’s proven he can win.
And for a team with championship aspirations, that’s exactly what you want heading into the postseason.
The Buckeyes are in Dallas now, just two days away from their Cotton Bowl clash with the Miami Hurricanes. They’re favored by 9.5 points, and with Sayin under center, there’s a quiet confidence around this team that feels earned.
Because when the lights get bright and the pressure cranks up, Ohio State knows they’ve got a quarterback who’s already shown he can handle the moment.