Nick Saban identifies college football’s best quarterback this season

Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban has long been the standard for identifying elite talent, and his latest assessment carries plenty of weight. During ESPN’s College GameDay broadcast, Saban named Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin as the best signal-caller in college football this season. The remark not only reflected Sayin’s exceptional play but also carried a deeper resonance considering the connection between the two.

Sayin was once committed to Alabama and planned to play under Saban. That plan ended abruptly in January 2024 when Saban announced his retirement, leaving the five-star freshman to reconsider his future. Within weeks, Sayin entered the transfer portal and landed at Ohio State, drawn by head coach Ryan Day’s quarterback development track record. The Carlsbad, California native joined a crowded room that included former five-star recruit Air Noland, yet his confidence never wavered.

Now, less than two years later, Sayin has led the Buckeyes to a 5-0 record and the top spot in the polls. Through five games, he has completed 80.2 percent of his passes for 1,313 yards, 13 touchdowns, and just three interceptions. What was once a gamble to transfer has become one of the season’s defining success stories.

Julian Sayin’s Path From Alabama To Ohio State

Sayin’s decision to leave Alabama came after Saban’s retirement sent shockwaves across college football. He had signed with the Crimson Tide in December 2023 and was already on campus when the news broke. “When I ended up going to Alabama, I wanted to go play for Coach Saban,” Sayin said on Off Script with Zak Herbstreit. “When he retired, I decided to transfer. Ohio State was just a big decision for me because of the quarterback development history they’ve had with Coach Day.”

That choice brought Sayin into a competitive environment that fit his mindset. He spent his first year learning behind veteran Will Howard as Ohio State won a national championship.