The Ohio State Buckeyes have yet to officially name their starting quarterback for the 2025 season, but all signs point to Julian Sayin being the frontrunner. A former five-star recruit, Sayin originally committed to Alabama before transferring to Ohio State following the retirement of legendary head coach Nick Saban.
After spending last season backing up Will Howard, Sayin is now poised to take the reins and make his mark. Fans won’t have to wait much longer, as he’ll have the opportunity to make a major statement on August 30 in a highly anticipated home opener against Arch Manning and the Texas Longhorns.
The Ohio State football program is still in the process of finalizing its 2026 recruiting class, which currently sits at about half capacity with just 13 commitments. The Buckeyes are eyeing several top-tier prospects who have yet to make their official visits to Columbus, hoping to make a strong impression and add more talent to the class.
In addition to targeting uncommitted players, Ohio State is also making a push to flip a few recruits who have already made commitments elsewhere. While flipping recruits isn’t something the Buckeyes typically do often, they’re making a serious effort to sway at least one five-star prospect to reconsider and join their class.
That said, both Nick Saban and Ryan Day took part in the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio, where they were paired together in the same four-man group on Wednesday. After the round, Saban spoke highly of Julian Sayin, offering nothing but praise for the Buckeyes’ projected starting quarterback. Despite no longer coaching him, Saban’s comments reinforced the high regard in which Sayin is held and added further excitement around his upcoming debut as Ohio State’s potential QB1.
Nick Saban talks about Ryan Day reaching new levels as a head coach and shares what stands out about Julian Sayin
“I’ve got a little Buckeye in me”
pic.twitter.com/2NXkCPLE2N— Woody (@woodyVSworld) May 28, 2025
“Julian is a great young man,” Saban said. He speaks highly of him both as a player and just a human being as well. That’s something you love to hear from one of the best coaches to ever do it.
Julian Sayin entered the transfer portal as the No. 1 quarterback in his class and the sixth-best overall transfer, according to 247Sports. As a high school prospect, he was ranked as the 20th-best player in the nation and the third-best quarterback in his class, trailing only DJ Lagway and Dylan Raiola. His pedigree and potential have generated a lot of excitement in Columbus as he prepares to take over the Buckeyes’ offense in 2025.
That said, the Buckeyes are clearly counting on big things from their standout player. Standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 203 pounds, he has the size to see over the offensive line and, according to Saban, the precision to make his throws matter. A breakout season is likely for the new starting quarterback.
Coming off a national championship, Ohio State has little margin for error, especially with top talents like Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs on the team. Fans will be looking for Sayin to make an immediate and consistent impact.
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