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Ryan Day raves about Julian Sayin’s offseason: ‘Different look in his eye’
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Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin had an excellent debut season in 2025 as the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback.
Sayin was second in the nation in passer efficiency rating, trailing only Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza in that category. He threw for 32 touchdowns against 8 interceptions while averaging an elite 9.2 yards per attempt.
And with that as the bar, head coach Ryan Day said Wednesday that Sayin can be even better in 2026.
“Julian Sayin, in now year three with us, year two as a starter, has a different look in his eye,” Day said from the podium at Big Ten Media Days. “I said before he had great success last year. Won his first start ever, home against Texas, top five matchup. Won our rivalry game in the sideway snow. Came up short at the end of the year. We all did. When you look in his eye now, you see a different person, a different body. He’s worked hard, gotten stronger. He’s found his voice even more. I think he’s poised for a great season.”
An improved Sayin could be a scary proposition for the rest of the Big Ten given that he was one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the nation last season.
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Sayin will have an elite support system around him in Columbus once again as well. Jeremiah Smith is back for what will presumably be his final season of college football and the Buckeyes also have a veteran offensive line full of homegrown talent.
Day also praised Sayin’s intelligence level and his leadership entering Year 2 as Ohio State‘s starter.
“I think for Julian, you look for some traits that are extraordinary about him,” Day said. “I think the first thing you recognize is his accuracy. What you don’t see, but I see, is his intelligence level. He can handle high levels of information. He’s highly, highly motivated.
“He’s really embraced this leadership role.”
Ohio State will open the 2026 season against Ball State on Sept. 5.
Spenser is the news manager at Saturday Road and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.