Ohio State’s National Championship Hopes in 2025 May Rest on Whether Quarterback Julian Sayin Can Lead With Poise and Precision
The 2025 college football season is fast approaching, and the Ohio State Buckeyes are not just another contender—they’re the defending national champions. After securing the 2024 title with a 14-2 record and dominant postseason run, the Buckeyes are in a position every powerhouse dreams of: kings of the sport, but with everything to lose. Expectations in Columbus are sky-high, and Ryan Day’s program is armed with a roster deep in talent, experience, and hunger. But as always in college football, especially at the elite level, everything could come down to one critical question: who’s under center?
Enter Julian Sayin, a former five-star recruit and one of the most talked-about young quarterbacks in the country. Originally committed to Alabama, Sayin transferred to Ohio State during the offseason in one of the most shocking portal moves of the year. His decision to join the Buckeyes not only reshaped the quarterback room, but also injected new intrigue into the 2025 campaign. Now, as preseason practices ramp up, it’s becoming increasingly clear: if Ohio State wants to repeat as champions, they may need Julian Sayin to be their guy.
Sayin brings with him the kind of pedigree that only a handful of quarterbacks possess. Polished mechanics, elite arm talent, composure beyond his years, and a football IQ that separates him from many of his peers. He spent his freshman year at Alabama developing behind Jalen Milroe, but with the Crimson Tide undergoing a program-wide shift following Nick Saban’s retirement, the opportunity to take control of a national powerhouse somewhere else became too enticing to pass up. Ohio State, fresh off a title and with a wide-open quarterback competition, offered him that chance.
From the moment Sayin stepped onto campus in Columbus, there was a buzz. Coaches were impressed by his immediate command of the playbook, his cool demeanor, and the way veteran players responded to him. Wide receivers gravitated toward his accuracy in spring practices. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, in his first full offseason with the Buckeyes, was said to be enamored with Sayin’s fit in his system. As the spring game came and went, it was Sayin—not Devin Brown or Lincoln Kienholz—who looked the most composed, the most accurate, and the most in control of the offense.
Now, Ohio State has not named a starter yet. Ryan Day is famous for letting position battles play out deep into fall camp. But all signs point to Sayin being more than just a freshman trying to fit in—he’s a legitimate contender, if not the favorite, to win the job.
What makes Sayin such a fascinating X-factor is how different he is stylistically from some of Ohio State’s recent quarterbacks. He doesn’t have C.J. Stroud’s prototypical size or Justin Fields’ athletic burst, but he does have poise and sharp decision-making that resembles a seasoned pro. He’s not going to run for 80-yard touchdowns or truck defenders at the goal line—but he might carve defenses apart with timing, placement, and anticipation.
In Chip Kelly’s offense, that could be the perfect match. Kelly values rhythm, spacing, and fast reads. He wants his quarterback to get the ball out quickly, make the right decision, and let the playmakers do the rest. With guys like Emeka Egbuka, Carnell Tate, Jeremiah Smith, and Brandon Inniss lining up out wide, the offense doesn’t need a quarterback to play hero ball—it needs a distributor. A tactician. Someone who can keep the offense on schedule, avoid mistakes, and hit windows that only a handful of players in the country can see.
That’s what Sayin does best.
But with all of his talent comes the reality of pressure. This isn’t just any team. This is Ohio State, defending a national title, with Michigan on the schedule, and road trips to places like Oregon and Penn State looming large. Sayin may be confident, but he’s also a freshman. And no matter how talented, there’s no substitute for in-game experience. One missed read in Happy Valley, one costly interception in Ann Arbor, one moment of hesitation against a blitz-heavy Wisconsin front—and a season’s trajectory could shift dramatically.
Still, what’s most impressive about Sayin is that he doesn’t seem fazed by the spotlight. He’s spoken like a veteran, embraced the grind of learning a new system, and shown no signs of being overwhelmed by the moment. Those close to the program say he’s already taken on a leadership role in offseason workouts, earning the respect of upperclassmen not just with his arm but with his preparation.
There’s also the factor of the players around him. Sayin doesn’t need to do it alone. TreVeyon Henderson is back in the backfield, and a healthy Henderson might be the most dangerous offensive weapon in the country. The offensive line, anchored by Donovan Jackson and Josh Fryar, has been rebuilt with power and discipline. The wide receivers are the best in the country, and tight ends like Jelani Thurman provide red-zone threats. This is a dream environment for a young quarterback to grow.
Defensively, the Buckeyes are elite once again. That matters. A strong defense allows a young quarterback the freedom to make mistakes. Julian Sayin doesn’t need to score 45 points every game. He just needs to manage the offense, make the right throws, and let his supporting cast elevate the team.
Still, all the talent in the world doesn’t guarantee results. This is a pressure cooker of a position. Ohio State fans, spoiled by the brilliance of past QBs, expect excellence from the first snap. And the moment things go sideways—be it a close game or an upset loss—there will be calls for change. Devin Brown, who has waited his turn, is still in the mix. So is Lincoln Kienholz. The leash on Sayin, should he earn the job, may not be long.
That’s why the margin for error is so thin at a place like Ohio State. But it’s also why someone like Sayin is here in the first place. He didn’t transfer to be part of a rebuild. He came to lead a championship-caliber program and be the centerpiece of another title run. His journey—from five-star recruit to Alabama backup to potentially the face of Buckeye Nation—is the type of storyline that college football thrives on.
Ryan Day knows this too. His reputation, once under siege after multiple Michigan losses, is now secure following the national championship. But the hunger remains. In Day’s eyes, this isn’t the time to take a step back or manage expectations. It’s time to build a dynasty. That only happens with great quarterback play.
Julian Sayin could be that guy.
He could be the one who steps into a pressure-packed role, picks up where last year’s title team left off, and leads Ohio State into a new era of dominance. Or, he could be a freshman with flashes of brilliance and inevitable mistakes, who needs time before taking full control. The Buckeyes’ season, and perhaps their quest for back-to-back titles, might hinge on which version shows up.
The next few weeks of practice will be crucial. Chemistry with the receivers. Command of the playbook. Decision-making in simulated pressure situations. All of it will factor into the coaching staff’s decision. But if Julian Sayin proves he’s ready—not just physically but mentally—there’s a real chance he becomes the next star to lead Ohio State’s offense on college football’s biggest stage.
And if he is ready, if the moment doesn’t overwhelm him, if he can handle the grind of the Big Ten and the weight of expectation, then Ohio State might not just defend their national title—they might win it again, behind a quarterback whose time has come sooner than anyone expected.
