Ryan Day needs to weigh one of the biggest decisions of his Ohio State career – and it has everything to do with Julian Sayin

After struggling in Big Ten Championship Game and College Football Playoff loss, the Ohio State Buckeyes should consider options other than Julian Sayin.

Brandon Little, Tyler Forness
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Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) hugs head coach Ryan Day following the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas for the College Football Playoff quarterfinal game on Dec. 31, 2025. Ohio State lost 24-14.
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Going into the College Football Playoff, the Ohio State Buckeyes were the No. 2 seed and one of the favorites to win the national championship. They had a Heisman Trophy finalist in quarterback Julian Sayin, the best wide receiver to grace college football in some time with Jeremiah Smith, and multiple top-15 picks in this April’s NFL Draft in Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, and Caleb Downs.

Even with all that talent, they got whipped by the Miami Hurricanes 24-14, and most of that comes down to two things: a struggling offensive line and Sayin.

Ryan Day should consider a QB competition with Julian Sayin and Tavien St. Clair

Would it be a smart move to bench a Heisman Trophy finalist quarterback? Despite throwing for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns, Sayin struggled against the best competition. The Buckeyes played against six teams that finished the regular season with eight or more wins. In those games, he was not a big factor, throwing for 10 touchdowns and four interceptions, along with no 300-yard games.

In fairness to Sayin, it’s not just about the raw numbers. It’s about how you get them. Sayin struggled mightily against the best competition. He didn’t play the most composed, nor does he have the strongest arm, which is arguably the biggest reason to consider making the switch.

When you have players like Smith, Carnell Tate, and Brandon Inniss on the outside, not being able to drive the football with zip consistently is a problem. In today’s college football, the transfer portal allows you to find a new quarterback, but the Buckeyes have one in-house in five-star true freshman Tavien St. Clair.

Backup quarterback Lincoln Kienholz decided to enter the transfer portal, which will make things clearer at the position. Our Buckeyes beat writer, Brandon Little, agrees that a competition could be beneficial for the Buckeyes, as St. Clair has the goods.

“With Kienholz heading to the transfer portal, Ohio State is slated to have Tavien St. Clair as the backup to Sayin next season. If that is officially the case, Ohio State will have one of the more talented backups in college football. It isn’t often that Ohio State has a five-star quarterback in their own backyard, but that was the case with St. Clair. St. Clair spent this season as the No. 3 quarterback for the Buckeyes and appeared in one frame this season with two passing attempts. 

“During bowl prep, St. Clair played the role of emulating Miami QB Carson Beck. St. Clair is your big prototypical quarterback at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds. The Ohio native has a rocket for an arm and is mobile enough to move. St. Clair has everything that the Buckeyes want in a quarterback; it’s just a matter of when he’s ready. While Sayin put up good numbers in 2025, he faded in the biggest moment. For the better of the program, a quarterback competition would give the Buckeyes the best answer at quarterback. In a head-to-head duel, I’m not so sure that Sayin can hold off St. Clair in his second college season if it were to happen.”

St. Clair looks like the prototype quarterback, which could elevate the Buckeyes’ offense to the next level. You can see the zip he has on the ball in this edit, something that Sayin doesn’t have.

Tavien St. Clair Background, Facts

  • Tavien St. Clair was rated as a five-star recruit by 247Sports out of Bellefontaine High School in Bellefontaine, Ohio.
  • 2024: As a senior, powered Bellefontaine to a 9-3 record and the state playoffs. Completed 166 of 224 passes for 2,536 yards (68%) with 29 TDs and 4 INTs. Ran for 254 yards and 9 TDs while averaging 7.5 YPC.
  • 2023: OHSAA Division III All-Ohio first-team selection as a junior. Completed 233 of 330 passes (70.6%) for a school-record 3,983 yards with a school-record 37 TDs and 6 INTs. Also rushed for 352 yards and 4 TDs while averaging 9.7 YPC. Posted a 11-3 record.

Is St. Clair going to be an elite college football quarterback? It’s not a guarantee, but the tools are certainly better than what Sayin has, and it should be a real consideration for the Buckeyes.

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