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Ohio State

Where Buckeyes quarterback ranks in On3 list of top-10 Big Ten quarterbacks

Spencer-Holbrookby: Spencer Holbrook07/16/25SpencerHolbrook
Julian Sayin by Mick Walker -- Lettermen Row --
Julian Sayin (Mick Walker/Lettermen Row)

COLUMBUS — Ohio State hasn’t settled on a starting quarterback this offseason. Redshirt freshman Julian Sayin and redshirt sophomore Lincoln Kienholz will take that competition into August training camp ahead of the opener against top-ranked Texas on Aug. 30.

But that’s not stopping folks around the country from ranking Sayin, not Kienholz, in their rankings of the top quarterbacks nationally and in the Big Ten.

On3’s Andy Staples ranked his top 10 quarterbacks in the Big Ten this week, and he has Sayin checking in at No. 7 — one spot ahead of Michigan freshman Bryce Underwood. It’s understandable for Staples to go with proven starters ahead of the green Sayin. But he did have one interesting and puzzling ranking, putting Oregon’s Dante Moore at No. 5 despite Moore’s only action coming during his underwhelming freshman season at UCLA in 2023.

Here’s what Staples says about Sayin landing at No. 7 in the Big Ten quarterback rankings — despite not having the Buckeyes starting gig locked up yet:

It’s tough to gauge where the first-time starters in the Big Ten will land, but the fact that Ohio State didn’t just go into the portal for a new QB1 suggests high confidence in Sayin. And let’s be real. He gets to throw to Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. That’s a huge advantage.

– Andy Staples, On3

Staples is right. If Sayin wins the starting job over Kienholz, he’ll have the best weapons in the Big Ten and in college football to throw the football to. Oh, and he should have a strong running game behind a talented offensive line working to his advantage, as well.

The full list of the top 10 quarterbacks in the Big Ten, according to Andy Staples from On3, can be found below.

1. Drew Allar, Penn State
2. Luke Altmyer, Illinois
3. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
4. Nico Iamaleava, UCLA
5. Dante Moore, Oregon
6. Dylan Raiola, Nebraska
7. Julian Sayin, Ohio State
8. Bryce Underwood, Michigan
9. Demond Williams Jr., Washington
10. Mark Gronowski, Iowa

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