The Big Ten’s quarterback conversation keeps getting louder, and Julian Sayin is right at the center of it.
Sayin has been tabbed by Dalton Wasserman and Max Chadwick as the No. 4 player in college football, placing him three spots ahead of Dante Moore. That ranking only adds fuel to a debate that already has plenty of split opinions, with Moore and Sayin viewed by many as two of the best quarterbacks in the sport. Jayden Maiava is also expected to enter that mix in 2026.
The case for Sayin starts with the numbers, and they are hard to ignore. In his first season as Ohio State’s starting quarterback, the redshirt freshman completed 77.0% of his passes, which ranks as the third-highest completion percentage in college football history. Only Bo Nix in 2023 and Mac Jones in 2020 posted better marks at 77.4%.
His accuracy went beyond completion rate, too. Sayin’s 74.2% accurate throw rate set the PFF College single-season record. He also finished with the top PFF passing grade among all FBS quarterbacks at 92.9, and he logged a grade below 70.0 only once all season.
That kind of production helped push him into the Heisman Trophy conversation. Sayin is the only 2025 Heisman Trophy finalist returning to school, which puts him in position to be one of the leading candidates to win the award this season.
Still, not everyone sees the ranking the same way. Sayin clearly made the most of the resources around him and delivered a huge season for the Buckeyes, but the argument for Moore is different. The source material points to Moore having traits that fit sustainability in the NFL, and it also notes that his College Football Playoff loss to Indiana was a disappointing finish that led to his return to Oregon.
If the discussion is built strictly on production, Sayin has earned his place near the top. But when the full picture is considered, the source argues Moore should be occupying the spot Sayin currently holds.
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