He wasn't even supposed to be here.
When you look at the 2025 college football season in the rearview mirror, it’s hard to remember that Julian Sayin originally signed with Alabama. He was there. He wore the crimson. He even practiced with Nick Saban during Rose Bowl prep. Then Saban retired, the portal opened, and Ryan Day landed the kind of gift that programs usually only dream of. Honestly, it’s the most "Ohio State" thing ever—turning a coaching legend's exit into a Heisman-finalist entrance.
If you watched the Buckeyes this year, you saw something different. It wasn't the raw power of Cardale Jones or the sheer rushing threat of Justin Fields. It was surgery. Sayin basically spent the entire season operating on opposing secondaries with a scalpel. He didn't just break the Ohio State completion percentage record; he shattered the NCAA's all-time mark.
Why Ohio State Julian Sayin Changed the Offense
Most quarterbacks need a year or two to settle into Ryan Day’s system. It’s complex. It’s demanding. But Sayin is a different breed of processor. You’ve probably heard the term "elite ball placement" thrown around by scouts, but with Sayin, it’s literal. He finished the regular season completing 78.4% of his passes. Think about that. Nearly eight out of every ten balls he threw found a pair of hands.
The 2024 season felt a little "safe" under Will Howard. It worked, sure—they won a lot of games—but there was always a feeling that the car was stuck in third gear. With Julian Sayin at the helm in 2025, the Buckeyes finally shifted. He unlocked Jeremiah Smith in a way that felt illegal at times. Smith caught 10 touchdowns by November, largely because Sayin has this uncanny ability to throw his receivers open before they even make their break.
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The Stat Line That Rewrote the Books
By the time the Heisman ceremony rolled around in December 2025, the numbers were staggering:
- Passing Yards: 3,610
- Touchdowns: 32
- Interceptions: 8
- Completion Rate: 78.4% (New NCAA Record)
- Passer Rating: 182.2
He finished fourth in the Heisman voting, which, if we’re being real, felt a little low. He led the nation in efficiency and took Ohio State to a 12-0 regular season, including the first win over Michigan since 2019. If he hadn't lost the Big Ten Championship game to a surging Indiana squad, he might have walked away with the trophy.
The Texas Game: Where Everything Clicked
The hype was one thing, but the Week 1 showdown against Texas was the "oh, he's actually that guy" moment. It was his first college start. The lights in Columbus were blinding. People expected some freshman jitters. Instead, Sayin looked like a ten-year NFL vet.
He didn't put up 500 yards. He didn't need to. He went 13-of-20 for 126 yards and a touchdown, but the numbers lie. Two of those incompletions were throwaways. Three more were drops by his stars. When the pressure got high, he hit Carnell Tate for a 40-yard touchdown on a play-action look that froze the Longhorns' secondary. He was kept clean on 75% of his dropbacks, but even when the pocket collapsed, he completed 40% of his passes under duress. That’s poise you just can’t coach.
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What Makes Him Different from Stroud or Fields?
It’s the processing speed. C.J. Stroud was a master of the pocket, and Justin Fields was a physical freak of nature. Sayin is closer to a point guard. He gets the ball out in under 2.5 seconds on a huge chunk of his dropbacks. Coach Ryan Day mentioned after the Penn State game—where Sayin went 20-of-23 for 316 yards—that his "brain moves as fast as his hands."
He’s not a runner. Let’s be clear about that. He finished the season with negative rushing yardage once you factor in the sacks. If you’re looking for a dual-threat guy, he isn’t it. But in this offense, with receivers like Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, and Brandon Inniss, he doesn't need to run. He just needs to be the distributor.
The NIL Powerhouse
Off the field, the "Julian Sayin" brand is massive. His On3 NIL valuation hit $2.5 million by early 2026. He’s got deals with Panini America and HeyDude shoes. He’s become the face of the program faster than almost anyone in recent memory. That kind of pressure usually breaks kids, but Sayin seems to thrive on it. He’s a Carlsbad, California kid who moved across the country twice in one month and never blinked.
The 2027 NFL Draft Outlook
While we’re still a ways off, the NFL buzz is already deafening. Most scouts have him as a top-five quarterback for the 2027 draft class. The consensus is that he lacks the "alien" arm strength of someone like Arch Manning or the rushing ceiling of other prospects, but his floor is incredibly high. Teams love "pro-ready" guys who don't turn the ball over.
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His 91.1 Total QBR leads the country. That is a stat that NFL front offices obsess over because it measures winning impact, not just empty stats. He’s essentially a 20-year-old who plays like he’s 25.
Actionable Insights for Buckeye Fans
If you're following the trajectory of this team, here is what you actually need to watch for heading into the next cycle:
- Watch the O-Line Depth: Sayin’s biggest weakness is his play under heavy pressure. His completion rate drops significantly (from 73% to 40%) when he’s chased out of the pocket. The Buckeyes' success in 2026 depends entirely on keeping him clean.
- The St. Clair Pressure: Don't ignore Tavien St. Clair. The freshman is highly touted. While Sayin is the undisputed starter, the "two-QB" chatter only stays quiet as long as Sayin stays historic.
- Red Zone Efficiency: The one area where this offense occasionally stalled was inside the 10-yard line. Since Sayin isn't a rushing threat, the Buckeyes have to rely on Bo Jackson and the power run game. If the run game falters, Sayin has to be even more perfect in tight windows.
- Target Share: Watch how defenses start to double-team Jeremiah Smith. Sayin’s ability to find his secondary reads (the tight ends or Brandon Inniss) will determine if the offense remains "unstoppable" or just "very good."
The "Sayin Era" isn't just a fun storyline; it's a fundamental shift in how Ohio State plays football. They’ve moved away from the "athlete at QB" model and leaned fully into the "cerebral assassin" approach. So far, it’s working.