Ohio State, Ryan Day Receive Head-Turning Julian Sayin Ranking

The Ohio State Buckeyes and head coach Ryan Day will begin their quest for a second straight national championship on August 30 when they take on the Texas Longhorns.

Before that game arrives, Ohio State will need to figure out who its starting quarterback will be. All signs currently point to Julian Sayin winning the battle over Lincoln Kienholz, but that will not be decided for quite some time.

Sayin, who transferred to the Buckeyes from the Alabama Crimson Tide last year, possesses elite talent. However, he has not shown that talent on the field yet. He will have to do so to win the job in the first place, but then to lead Ohio State to wins.

Prior to the 2025 college football season, Sayin has received a lukewarm ranking.

Brad Crawford of 247 Sports has ranked Sayin as the No. 16 quarterback in the nation to begin the year. That is not where he'd like to be at, but there are still major questions about what kind of quarterback he'll be when he's on the field in a real game.

"It would not be a surprise if Julian Sayin winds up being one of the Big Ten's top two quarterbacks this season for the Buckeyes if he can hold off Luke Kienholz during fall camp," Crawford wrote. "There's not a quarterback in the country with a more talented wideout group and from all accounts inside the program, the former five-star recruit and Alabama signee under Nick Saban is ready for a breakout campaign as a redshirt freshman."