Julian Sayin Is Returning At Quarterback For Ohio State: What Should We Expect?
Julian Sayin was one of three finalists for the Heisman Trophy last season as a redshirt freshman. What should we expect from him in the upcoming 2026 season? He has many of his offensive weapons back.
Ohio State Head Coach Ryan Day has been effusive in his praise of Sayin. However, Ohio State faces a difficult schedule in 2026. Given the schedule and all of the weapons Sayin has, do you expect he will be in New York for the Heisman Trophy in 2026?
Julian Sayin: What Will He Do In 2026?
There is reason to be optimistic about Sayin’s performance in 2026. Most importantly, he has many offensive weapons at his disposal. The Buckeyes return 10 offensive starters, and their lone offensive newcomer is likely to be Chris Henry Jr. He was the highest-ranked wide receiver in the 2026 recruiting class. He is 6-foot-6, and his father played in the National Football League. He is said to be as fast as he is big, so he could easily be an Ohio State starting wide receiver.
Additional weapons for Sayin include Wide Receivers Jeremiah Smith and Brandon Inniss. Also returning is Running Back Bo Jackson. Also, recruit Legend Bey is supposed to be fast and very versatile. He will get playing time. There are other good running backs for the Buckeyes.
The tight ends in Columbus, despite Max Klare turning professional, are also strong, given the two experienced tight ends the Buckeyes acquired through the wild transfer portal. In particular, Mason Williams, a transfer from Ohio University, is very good and will likely start.
The performance of Sayin in 2026 is likely to be buoyed by an offensive line that returns five starters who made a combined 91 starts last season. New Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith should also help, though he was probably hired to help the running game. Lastly, Sayin has 14 starts under his belt and has the confidence of Day.
There are also good backups for Sayin, which could be important given the difficult schedule. Tavien St. Clair, a sophomore, is likely to be the backup quarterback. Luke Fahey, a three-star recruit in the Class of 2026, is probably third on the depth chart. Gigantic UCLA transfer Justin Martin is probably the fourth string heading into spring practice.
Key Dates
Ohio State begins spring practice on March 10. The Spring Game, which is just a glorified practice, is Saturday, April 18, in Ohio Stadium. Day is famous, or perhaps infamous, for not naming his starting quarterback until near the start of the season. However, he said last Friday that Sayin is his starter, which is about a no-brainer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sayin is expected to have a great year next season. He has his weapons back on offense. With an experienced offensive line and a new offensive coordinator, the sky is the limit for Sayin. He could very well win the Heisman Trophy in 2026. A side note, he was the youngest (by age) finalist for that Trophy in 20 years.
Parting Shots
This is the first time Ohio State has had a returning starter at quarterback in Sayin. He has a bunch of weapons at his disposal and the confidence of his head coach. He is very likely to have a big 2026 and could win the Heisman Trophy.
