Ryan Day explains decision to name Julian Sayin Ohio State's starting quarterback

The quarterback battle is finally over in Columbus. Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day announced that Julian Sayin is going to be the team’s starting quarterback to open the 2025 season.

Shortly after announcing Sayin was the starting quarterback, Day explained that choice. Ultimately, it’s his consistency that landed him the job going into Week 1.

“I think you’re always looking for consistency and taking care of the football,” Ryan Day said. “And when you start with practice one in the spring and then kind of do study on the entire growth over six months, you see that there was a lot of growth made. You look at the numbers that the production, we felt like he was in a situation where he was really ready to go play in this game.”

Julian Sayin competed against Lincoln Kienholz for the starting job at Ohio State. He had performed well, which is why the battle went on for as long as it did. Now, however, Sayin has established himself just ahead of Kienholz. Regardless, Ryan Day is confident in both options at quarterback.

“We also feel that Lincoln’s ready to play,” Day said. “But, overall, Julian was more consistent.”

Julian Sayin was a five-star+ recruit in the Class of 2024. He was the eighth-ranked player overall and the second-ranked quarterback in that recruiting cycle. Initially, he committed to go to Alabama, but following former head coach Nick Saban‘s decision to retire, he transferred to Ohio State without actually going to play for the Crimson Tide.

In 2024, Sayin appeared in four games, using a redshirt for the season. He completed 5-of-12 passes for 84 yards and a touchdown while also totaling 24 rushing yards over the course of his playing time. Along the way, he learned from veterans  Will Howard and Devin Brown on the way to an Ohio State national championship win.

Amid the quarterback battle, Sayin has looked to develop himself as a leader. In particular, he recently shared, he’s worked to become a better vocal leader.

“I feel like I’m developing it, but I feel like it has to be authentic – you can’t be someone you’re not,” Sayin said. “So there’s definitely styles of leadership, but I feel like I’m developing into that more vocal leadership role.”

In the opener, Julian Sayin is going to find himself in a showcase game. Ohio State opens against Texas, the team that the Buckeyes played in the College Football Playoff semifinal last season. There, the Longhorns are going to be led by Arch Manning at quarterback as they turn their offense over to another former five-star recruit.