Ryan Day sends Ohio State QB Julian Sayin a message he’ll want to follow after he was named the starter against Texas
Sayin will have no time to get acclimated with a tough test like the Texas Longhorns waiting.
Ohio State made its big decision official on Monday morning, naming sophomore Julian Sayin as the starting quarterback. Head coach Ryan Day confirmed that Sayin will open the season for the Buckeyes when they host the Texas Longhorns.
Sayin, a transfer from Alabama, won the job over junior Lincoln Kienholz and is set to be the next quarterback under Day. Historically, Day has had great success developing quarterbacks in Columbus, and Sayin looks poised to follow that trend.
After announcing Sayin as the starter, Day offered his young quarterback some advice heading into the season opener against a top-tier opponent.
“All he needs to do is just do what he’s been doing,” Day said on Monday. “We’ve talked a lot about that whole Roy Hobbs myth: ‘You just need to be you.’ You’re going to sink to the level of your training. And so I think that he knows that the team has confidence, the coaches have confidence in him. So go let it rip.”
Sayin will have no shortage of weapons around him. The offense is loaded with playmakers, led by Jeremiah Smith, 2026 NFL Draft prospect Carnell Tate, and Brandon Inniss. The addition of star tight end transfer Max Klare gives the Buckeyes another reliable option, while the backfield tandem of James Peoples and CJ Donaldson should provide balance in the run game.
Opening against a Texas defense headlined by Collin Simmons is no easy task, but the Buckeyes at least get the benefit of playing at home. On the other side, Arch Manning won’t be making his first career start, but he will be leading his era of Longhorns football in a hostile road environment in Columbus.
There are bound to be some ups and downs with Sayin in his first season, but his arm talent and football IQ make him a strong candidate to be the next Ohio State quarterback drafted early. He was always the favorite to win the job—and now the spotlight is his to prove it.
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