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Should Ohio State Bench Julian Sayin?

Originally posted on TWSN | By Garret Staples | Last updated Sep 24, 2026 7:18 PM ET

Should Ohio State Bench Julian Sayin?

I saw a great breakdown on Instagram about Julian Sayin. Is Sayin really the quarterback who can lead Ohio State to a National Championship

Should Julian Sayin be the starting quarterback for the Buckeyes

If Julian Sayin isn’t the guy you think can lead Ohio State, with a generational talent at the wide receiver position in Jeremiah Smith, who helped the Buckeyes win a National Championship in the College Football Playoff in 2025 as a freshman. Well, how do you not waste Smith’s swan song as a Junior in Columbus that will enter the NFL Draft after this season?

Sayin at 6’1 and 214 LBS notably put on an extra 10 LBS of muscle to be more durable and be able to climb the pocket, and be able to shrug off potential pass rushers instead of being thrown around like a rag doll in Sayin’s sophomore season. Sayin was really exposed strength-wise during the College Football Playoff, where he had trouble evading pressure to push the ball downfield, especially against the Miami Hurricanes, where the offensive line struggled to protect Sayin up front.

The problem with Sayin is size; against College Football Playoff-caliber playoff teams, Sayin has yet to rise to the occasion. Most recently, two weeks ago at Texas. For Sayin to remain the starter, he has to be stronger in the pocket, take what the defense gives him, and use his legs for defenses to respect his scramble ability.

Julian Sayin is running out of time to prove he’s the guy pic.twitter.com/gB3Fvz1Ew1
— EddieLinks (@Eddielinks_) September 23, 2026

Who Would Replace Julian Sayin?

If Day decided to bench Julian Sayin (which he probably won’t), which quarterback does Day turn to? Currently, 3-star freshman Luke Fahey is second on the depth chart for Ohio State at quarterback. Which makes you question former 5-star Tavien St. Clair’s development.

Day spoke on his depth chart at the quarterback position per A to Z sports: “Every day you walk in this building, you got an opportunity to prove yourself and to earn trust. Luke has done that,” Day stated. “He’s been the first one in the game the last couple of games, and if he continues to do what he’s doing, I would continue to see it going that way,” Day added. St. Clair is right there and working hard. Clearly, Fahey as the 2^nd string at quarterback speaks volumes and could trigger Tavien St. Clair to enter the transfer portal if he wants to be a starter.

For the immediate future, as the Buckeyes chase a National Championship this season, Ryan Day would have to pull off one of his best coaching jobs if Day were to bench Sayin for a true freshman in Luke Fahey. As the season moves to BIG Ten Conference play, keep an eye on the Buckeyes quarterback room.

This article first appeared on TWSN and was syndicated with permission.

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