Texas HC Steve Sarkisian makes honest admission about Julian Sayin right after Ohio State names him the starting quarterback
Ohio State has their starter and Sayin is a QB that Texas once wanted.
Ohio State’s newest starting quarterback, Julian Sayin, took an interesting path to Columbus. Sayin was the No. 1 quarterback in the class of 2024 and originally committed to Nick Saban and Alabama. He enrolled at Alabama but transferred to Ohio State after Saban announced his retirement.
After appearing in just four games last season while preserving his redshirt, Sayin won the starting job over junior Lincoln Kienholz this fall.
As a 6-foot-1 passer with elite arm talent, Sayin drew offers from top programs across the country. Now, as a sophomore, he’ll open the season against the Texas Longhorns—a team that knows him well.
“We recruited him hard. He was a really gifted passer, really good player. He came to camp with us, I want to say, two years in a row,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said on Monday. “So we’ve got a lot of familiarity with him. He’s a very good player, an elite passer. Very good arm talent, a quick release and a really accurate guy. Obviously, he’s got great weapons around him and he’s the type of guy that can utilize those weapons in a good system. He presents a challenge.”
That’s high praise from Sarkisian ahead of the Week 1 matchup. Coaches typically stick to professional “coach-speak” in these situations, while players are more likely to stir things up with bulletin-board material. So far, though, there’s been none of that as game week approaches.
Sayin will have plenty of weapons at his disposal, led by star wideout Jeremiah Smith. Smith had just one catch for three yards in the Cotton Bowl last season, so don’t be surprised if Sayin looks to get his top target going early and often.
A Week 1 non-conference game won’t define Ohio State’s season, but it could give Sayin an early jolt of confidence—something that may prove pivotal as the year unfolds. The Buckeyes will host Texas on Aug. 30, with kickoff set for noon on FOX.
