Right now, no one in college football is riding a higher wave than Ohio State head coach Ryan Day. Just a season ago, the pressure was mounting, whispers of his potential firing were growing louder, and the Buckeyes’ championship drought stretched another year. Fast forward to today, and Day has silenced his critics in the most spectacular fashion—by delivering Ohio State its first national title in a decade. But before he can even take a victory lap, a new challenge looms. His championship-winning quarterback, Will Howard, is off to the NFL, leaving a gaping hole under center.
Ohio State’s quarterback battle is heating up, and Day has publicly acknowledged the fierce competition ahead. However, while the Buckeyes’ head coach insists the job is up for grabs, a national analyst has made it crystal clear—this is Julian Sayin’s position to lose. In his eyes, it’s Sayin or bust for Ohio State in 2025.
The Buckeyes’ Quarterback Dilemma
Columbus is currently buzzing with speculation. Last season, Ryan Day and his staff made a bold move by landing Kansas State transfer Will Howard, who went on to lead the Buckeyes to their long-awaited championship. But with Howard departing for the pros, the Buckeyes are once again staring down a quarterback battle that could define their season.
The spotlight has naturally shifted to Julian Sayin, the talented young signal-caller who transferred from Alabama in the wake of Nick Saban’s retirement. Sayin, a former five-star recruit, has already been pegged as a potential Heisman candidate before even taking a snap as Ohio State’s starter. But despite all the hype, Ryan Day is keeping his options open—at least publicly.
“It’ll be a fierce competition,” Day stated. “Lincoln [Kienholz] and Julian, and then Tavien [St. Clair]. We’re excited to see those guys compete.”
Yet, not everyone is buying into the idea of a true quarterback competition. National analyst Joe DeLeone isn’t playing along with Day’s narrative—he’s already made up his mind.
“If you flip on the tape of all three of these guys, Julian’s going to start,” DeLeone declared. “The ball just comes out of his hand so effortlessly. It’s like watching Justin Fields all over again.”
Blake Ruffino, another analyst, doubled down on the sentiment: “Until Ryan Day tells me that Julian Sayin is NOT going to be the starting quarterback at Ohio State, he’s the guy I’m rolling with.”
For Ohio State fans, this situation feels eerily familiar. Last spring, the Buckeyes found themselves in a heated quarterback competition between Devin Brown and Will Howard. Brown initially seemed like the favorite, but when the season kicked off, it was Howard who took the reins and never looked back. Could history repeat itself? Or is this time different?
Julian Sayin: The Future Face of the Buckeyes?
If there’s one thing that’s clear, it’s that Julian Sayin’s stock is skyrocketing. J.D. PicKell, a respected insider at On3, is fully on board with the Sayin hype train. He believes the young QB isn’t just the best option for Ohio State—he’s the only option.
“To me, when you’ve got Jeremiah Smith, the best player in college football, you play whoever gets him the ball the best,” PicKell explained. “And Julian Sayin, with his skill set… he probably deserves to be the guy.”
There’s a reason why Sayin was originally handpicked by Nick Saban himself. He may not have the towering frame that some scouts covet—standing at 6’1”, he lacks the imposing size of prototypical QBs—but what he does have is an elite football IQ, deadly accuracy, and an uncanny ability to read defenses.
Reports suggest that Sayin possesses one of the quickest releases in all of college football, a trait that has already drawn the attention of NFL scouts. According to NFL Rookie Watch, “Multiple NFL scouts reportedly believe Sayin ‘has the talent’ to be a Top-5 pick in the NFL Draft one day.”
With a stacked supporting cast featuring elite weapons like Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, Sayin has all the tools he needs to succeed. But the final decision rests in Ryan Day’s hands. Will he take the leap of faith and hand over the keys to Sayin, or will he open the door for a surprise challenger?
The battle for QB1 in Columbus has officially begun. One thing’s for certain—Julian Sayin is coming for that throne.
