As the countdown to the 2025 college football season ticks away, all eyes in Columbus—and across the nation—are zeroing in on one name: Julian Sayin. He’s not just another quarterback in Ohio State’s legendary lineage. He’s the next great hope. The golden-armed heir to a national championship throne. The five-star phenom with the world at his feet—and a firestorm of expectations barreling straight at him.
But beneath all the fanfare and Heisman whispers lies one burning, brutally honest question that will define Sayin’s season—and perhaps his legacy:
Can Julian Sayin slow the game down, take control of the chaos, and deliver under pressure when the nation’s best defenses come knocking?
That’s the challenge outlined by Dorrington Myers of Mike Farrell Sports, and it’s a question that even the most rabid Buckeye fan must acknowledge. Because the truth is, Sayin’s got a mountain to climb—and no safety rope.
Let’s start with the context: Sayin, a California prodigy and five-star recruit, shocked the college football world by transferring from Alabama to Ohio State after just one season. The move instantly sent shockwaves through the sport, positioning him as the potential centerpiece of a Buckeye offense that just captured its first national title in over a decade.
But while Sayin’s talent is unquestionable, his experience is minimal. In fact, he’s thrown a grand total of just 12 passes in his college career. That’s it. And now? He’s expected to lead the Buckeyes into a season where the only acceptable outcome is a repeat championship.
No pressure, right?
To make matters more intense, Sayin isn’t even the undisputed starter—yet. Throughout spring practice, he found himself locked in a fierce battle with Lincoln Kienholz, who has shown steady progress and an ability to keep the coaching staff intrigued. Head coach Ryan Day even declared the race “neck and neck”—a rare admission in the typically tight-lipped quarterback world.
But here’s where the script gets even spicier.
On August 30, Sayin will step onto the turf at Ohio Stadium in what promises to be the most explosive game of opening weekend: Ohio State vs. Texas, a showdown drenched in drama, with not one but two generational quarterbacks facing off.
Across the field? Arch Manning—the name that needs no introduction. Football royalty. Media magnet. And a fellow five-star quarterback trying to silence doubters of his own. It’s a battle that’s less about X’s and O’s and more about legacies in the making.
Sayin won’t just be fighting for victory—he’ll be fighting to prove he belongs in the same breath as the Mannings, the Strouds, and the Fields. And he’ll be doing it against a Texas defense brimming with NFL-level talent, snarling for the chance to humble the new king of Columbus.
This is the pressure cooker. And Sayin’s ability to manage tempo, anticipate windows, and remain composed when the blitz is screaming down his throat—that’s what Myers says will determine everything.
“I love Sayin’s raw skill set,” Myers writes, “but I want to see how he reacts when he’s not throwing against scout teams or backups. It’s a different animal when the speed ramps up, and every decision is life or death for your drive.”
Let’s not get it twisted: Julian Sayin is a prodigy, and there’s a reason fans are already dreaming of a second Heisman statue for the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. But greatness at Ohio State isn’t measured in stars or hype. It’s measured in how you handle Michigan in November, Texas in August, and the weight of an entire empire resting on your shoulders.
So here we are: Sayin has the tools. He has the spotlight. He has the storyline.
Now comes the hard part: proving he’s not just the next in line—but the next great one.
Because in Columbus, it’s not enough to wear the scarlet and gray. You have to earn it under the lights.
And for Julian Sayin, the clock has already started.
