Julian Sayin Is Becoming the Best Buckeyes Passer Ever

The Ohio State quarterback factory is developing another superstar.

by Tyler Schuster

Aug 20, 2026

Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin throws a pass against Michigan.

Every offseason, pundits across the country debate the merits of college football programs owning the title belt at each position.

LSU has a strong claim to be “DBU” for churning out stars such as Patrick Peterson, Tyrann Mathieu, Jamal Adams and many others. Ohio State likely sits atop the college football heap for its litany of standout wide receivers over the years. What program leads the pack for quarterback position? Don’t overlook the Buckeyes.

In recent memory, studs like JT Barrett, Justin Fields and CJ Stroud had illustrious careers in Columbus. The next man up? Julian Sayin.

During his first year as the full-time starter, Sayin turned into a full-blown star, throwing for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns with a preposterous 77% completion percentage. Even with only one full season under his belt, there are few flaws in his game, which makes him a bona fide Heisman Trophy candidate entering the 2026 college football season.

Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin throws a pass against Michigan.

Julian Sayin by the Numbers

Sayin’s stat line bears repeating. During the 2025 season, the Buckeyes’ freshman phenom threw for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns with eight interceptions. Perhaps the most mind-bogglingly efficient thing about his game is his sky-high completion percentage. In a sport obsessed with completing passes, he’s the very best in the business.

When you dive deeper, the data paint the picture of a quarterback who does almost everything at a high level – and probably still has room to grow.

Sayin isn’t just a gifted passer from the pocket. He’s the type of athlete who plays with such great efficiency that he makes others around him better.

According to Hudl IQ, during the 2025 season, Sayin posted 0.37 EPA/Play and 0.40 EPA/Pass figures. He was successful on over 61% of his pass attempts and notched a truly incredible 11.5% CPOE (Completion Percentage Over Expectation), which factors in metrics such as throw depth, receiver separation, and pressure.

Some of this figure might come down to the fact that he was throwing passes to an elite receiving corps headlined by Jeremiah Smith. But no matter who he was throwing to, that’s a wildly impressive figure.

The only area of Sayin’s game where you could pick nits is his ability as a rusher. Sayin is not a running quarterback. The Buckeyes rarely draw up designed run plays, and when pass plays break down, Sayin prefers to evade pressure, flip his eyes and hips and attempt to complete passes down the field. But I’m not sure it matters, especially when you have a good rushing attack and the sport’s best crop of receivers.

Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin reacts during the Big Ten Championship Game against Indiana at Lucas Oil Stadium on Dec. 6, 2025.

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

How Much Better Can Julian Sayin Get?

Even with only one full season under his belt, Sayin is already the sport’s most accurate passer.

He rarely misses on routine throws and has a knack for completing passes from ultra-difficult positions. When you combine those two skill sets, you have a prototypical pocket passer who can unlock defenses and push the outer limits of college football quarterback efficiency.

This season, Sayin will work with a new offensive coordinator, with Brian Hartline off to South Florida as head coach, making way for NFL veteran Arthur Smith. It’ll be fascinating to see how Smith tries to find new ways to maximize Sayin’s abilities.

One small tweak — and something that Smith might be able to help with — is slowly integrating Sayin into the Buckeyes’ run game. Two seasons ago, Will Howard, who is admittedly more mobile and was a much more willing runner, found success on occasional designed run plays. Perhaps Sayin will look to use his legs a bit more when plays break down, even if it’s only once or twice per game.

But even if he doesn’t take strides in the run game, there’s nothing Sayin can’t do as a passer. He’s extremely polished, has the good fortune of throwing to the sport’s best receiving corps and feels impossible to screw up.

If Sayin somehow takes another step in his development, the Buckeyes will make yet another run at a Big Ten and national title, and Sayin will be another worthy candidate for the Heisman Trophy by year’s end.