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As the 2025 college football season draws near, the quarterback race at Ohio State is heating up, and all eyes are now on sophomore Julian Sayin.
While the Buckeyes have yet to officially name a starter, recent buzz around spring practices and insider reports suggest that Sayin is emerging as the likely choice to lead the offense.
Sayin emerging as Ohio State's QB1
Texas recently made headlines by promoting Arch Manning to starting quarterback, a move that intensifies the spotlight on the Longhorns' opening matchup against Ohio State.
With last year's Cotton Bowl hero Will Howard now in the NFL, Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day must make a decisive move of his own, and it's beginning to look like Sayin is his answer.
Sayin, a former Alabama transfer, has shown flashes of brilliance in limited action.
He impressed in the 2025 spring game, completing 17 of 24 es for 175 yards and leading three straight touchdown drives.
Despite his modest 2024 stats, just 84 ing yards and one touchdown, Sayin's potential is becoming difficult to ignore.
"I thought Julian, for the most part, early on, was in rhythm and moved the team down the field for a couple of touchdowns, which was good,"Day said following spring action.
"Made some nice throws."
However, Day isn't rushing the decision, continuing to evaluate Sayin alongside Lincoln Kienholz and freshman Tavien St. Clair.
Still, insiders close to the program say the race is narrowing.
NFLRookieWatch even claimed Sayin has "wrapped up" the starting job, citing his "absolute CANNON" of an arm and quick release.
While Sayin may lack prototypical size at 6-foot-1, shorter than recent Buckeye starters, Day isn't concerned.
"You're in the trees; you have to find ing lanes," he said.
"But at the end of the day... he's certainly tall enough."
ESPN's Greg McElroy also weighed in, suggesting that if a decision had to be made today, Sayin would be the guy.
"I do think it's going to be Julian Sayin,"McElroy said.
"I think in time, his talent and his ceiling will allow him to emerge."
That said, Kienholz isn't backing down.
He nearly matched Sayin's spring game output, completing 12 of 18 es for 158 yards and two scores, including a 51-yard strike.
The competition, while tilting toward Sayin, remains alive.
As fans count down to the Buckeyes' season opener against Texas, the storyline of Sayin vs Manning is starting to take shape.
Both are second-year players.
Both are stepping into massive expectations.
But Sayin's rise could be Ohio State's strategic response to Texas' bold move.