Ryan Day isn’t just optimistic about Julian Sayin heading into 2026 - he’s all-in. After a rollercoaster postseason that saw Ohio State’s offense sputter in back-to-back losses to Indiana and Miami, questions have naturally swirled around the Buckeyes’ quarterback situation.
But Day isn’t entertaining any doubt. In his words, Ohio State has “the best quarterback coming back in college football next year.”
That’s a bold statement, but it’s far from baseless.
Sayin, who’ll be a redshirt sophomore this fall, is fresh off a season that saw him lead the entire FBS with a 77% completion rate - the third-best mark in the history of college football. He also posted the highest passer rating (177.5) among all returning quarterbacks and finished as a Heisman Trophy finalist, the only underclassman to make the trip to New York in the last three seasons.
Still, the end of the season left a bitter taste. Sayin and the Buckeyes offense struggled mightily in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal loss to Miami, managing just 14 points in a 24-14 defeat. It was a game that exposed some of the growing pains in Sayin’s development - namely, his ability to make plays outside the pocket and hit tight-window throws over the middle in high-pressure moments.
Sayin didn’t shy away from the accountability.
“It starts with me,” he said after the Cotton Bowl. “We’ve got to be better on offense from an execution standpoint. It starts with me, so we’ve got to be better and put up more points than 14.”
That kind of self-awareness is exactly what Day believes will fuel Sayin’s growth in Year 2 as a starter. And let’s not forget - Sayin came into the 2025 season with just 12 collegiate pass attempts under his belt.
He was the third-string quarterback as a true freshman in 2024. So while the expectations were sky-high, a few bumps along the way were always part of the equation.
“This is somebody who hasn't played a lot of football,” Day said. “It’s his first year playing, and he competes.
He works at it in the meeting room. What he does in terms of his preparation, what we put on his plate - getting us in and out of plays, protection checks - this guy here has got a very, very bright future ahead of him.”
And the numbers back it up. Among quarterbacks returning to college football in 2026, Sayin ranked third in touchdown passes - trailing only Drew Mestemaker (now at Oklahoma State after transferring from North Texas) and Darian Mensah (who moved from Duke to Miami). He also ranked fourth in passing yards per attempt, behind Mestemaker, Notre Dame’s CJ Carr, and Byrum Brown, who transferred to Auburn after a strong season at USF.
But what sets Sayin apart isn’t just what he’s done - it’s what he still can become. Day believes Sayin’s ceiling is nowhere near reached, and that 2026 could be his true breakout as both a quarterback and a leader.
“One of the youngest guys to get to New York City, I think, in a while,” Day said. “Most of the guys who've been going there are older guys.
So we’re all excited about this year for him and taking the next step, even as a leader and all the different things. But obviously a great first year for him.”
Now, the focus shifts to the offseason - and Sayin’s already locked in. According to Day, the quarterback is fully invested in building the kind of offense that can win it all.
“Julian has been awesome here, and really wants to make sure that we have guys around him and an offense together that we can go win the whole thing and reach our goals,” Day said. “So Julian is going to have a huge offseason. Julian is really going to dive into this thing and take the next step.”
The tools are there. The experience is coming. And if Sayin takes that next step - the one from talented young quarterback to elite college football leader - Ohio State’s national title hopes in 2026 are very real.