Ohio State names Julian Sayin starting quarterback ahead of showdown with Texas
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Ohio State head coach Ryan Day will have a quarterback making his first collegiate start when the Buckeyes host Texas on Aug. 30 in the biggest game of college football’s opening week.
Sophomore Julian Sayin, a 5-star recruit in the 2024 class and consensus No. 1 quarterback in the country, beat out Lincoln Kienholz for the job. Day made the announcement when speaking with reporters Monday, calling it “a close competition.”
“Julian separated himself within the last week with his consistent play, but we’re going to need both quarterbacks,” Day said. “Both guys can win a game for us, and I feel like we’re confident with both guys. Lincoln did a lot of great things, but we’re going to give Julian the bulk of the reps with the 1s.”
Sayin enrolled at Alabama in December 2023 after his monster career for Carlsbad High School in Carlsbad, California, throwing for almost 8,000 yards and 85 touchdowns against just 10 interceptions, but transferred to Ohio State about a month later after Nick Saban announced his retirement. He was on the sideline for the Buckeyes during their 28-14 win over Texas in the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Cotton Bowl Classic.
He played in four games last season, completing 5 of 12 passes for 84 yards, including a 55-yard score against Western Michigan for his first collegiate touchdown pass.
“We recruited him hard,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said of Sayin. “I have a ton of respect for him. He’s a very gifted passer, really good player. He came to camp with us, I think, two years in a row. We have a lot of familiarly with him. He’s an elite passer, and he’s the kind of guy that can utilize all those great weapons around him. It’s going to pose a heck of a challenge.”
Both quarterback in the Week 1 marquee matchup are big on potential but lack game experience. Texas quarterback Arch Manning made two starts last season, completing 61 of 90 passes for 939 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions. He also ran for 108 yards on 25 carries.
