Julian Sayin wasn’t supposed to be this polished, this poised, this precise-at least not this early. But here we are, twelve weeks into the 2025 college football season, and the Ohio State freshman quarterback isn’t just meeting expectations-he’s rewriting the standard.
In Saturday’s 27-9 win over Michigan, Sayin once again looked like a veteran in a freshman’s jersey. He threw for 233 yards and three touchdowns, and while he did toss just his fifth interception of the season, it barely put a dent in what’s become one of the most efficient seasons we’ve ever seen from a college quarterback. He missed on only seven passes all game, a number that’s become almost routine for him this year.
After that performance, Sayin now holds the highest single-season completion percentage in college football history-78.9%. That’s not just a record, it’s a statement.
He passed the previous high-water marks set by Bo Nix and Mac Jones, both of whom had held the top spots for just a handful of years. Sayin’s leap over them-by a full 1.5%-is significant.
And the kicker? He’s doing this in his first year as a starter.
This isn’t just a case of a quarterback thriving in a system. Sayin’s ball placement, timing, and decision-making have been elite from Week 1.
Remember Ohio State’s early-season demolition of Grambling State? Sayin went 18-of-19 for 406 yards and four touchdowns.
That’s a 94.7% completion rate, just one throw shy of tying the school record for consecutive completions. That wasn’t just stat-padding-it was a glimpse of what was to come.
And it hasn’t been a flash-in-the-pan kind of season, either. Against Penn State a few weeks ago, Sayin completed 20 passes with just three incompletions.
That’s 87% on the day, with 316 yards and four touchdowns to go with it. He’s topped 80% completions in five games, gone over 75% in seven, and has only dipped below 70% twice all year.
That level of consistency doesn’t happen by accident.
Yes, Ohio State is loaded. The Buckeyes have a deep backfield full of breakout runners, and their receiving corps might be the most NFL-ready group in the country.
But this offense runs through Sayin. His accuracy, calm under pressure, and ability to read defenses have elevated the entire unit.
And when the lights have been brightest, he’s delivered.
Saturday’s win over Michigan wasn’t just another victory-it was the biggest game of Sayin’s life so far. And he didn’t flinch.
He faced adversity early-Michigan brought pressure, disrupted timing, and forced him to adjust. But Sayin embraced the challenge.
“We knew there was gonna be adversity,” he said after the game. “We weren’t gonna let it faze us.
Adversity came on the second play of the game. We got to keep battling.
I think as an offense that’s our whole mindset, just keep battling.”
That mindset has carried the Buckeyes to the doorstep of a Big Ten title-and potentially more. Their next test?
A high-stakes showdown with the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers in the Big Ten Championship Game. It’s a prime-time clash at Lucas Oil Stadium, and it’ll pit Sayin against the only other player with a realistic shot at the 2025 Heisman Trophy: Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza.
For Sayin, it’s another chance to prove that this historic season isn’t just about numbers-it’s about leadership, composure, and delivering when it matters most. If he keeps playing like this, the Buckeyes won’t just be Big Ten contenders-they’ll be chasing something much bigger.