The thought hit Brandon Inniss like a laser-pointed pass to the receiver’s capable mitts one evening.
Julian Sayin had claimed Ohio State’s starting quarterback job after a long, arduous battle with Lincoln Kienholz. Since then, Inniss, a team captain, had noticed Sayin step up in every way he could think of. His play. His approach. His leadership.
Inniss wanted to make sure Sayin knew his teammates were proud of him.
“I feel like, as a quarterback that's starting his first game in the biggest game of the year, honestly, he just needs some words of encouragement,” Inniss said. “I don't feel like nobody is going to see that, and I was just like, ‘Damn.’ I don't know, something just hit me. Let me just shoot him a text real quick and just tell him I'm proud of him. Let's go. Let's go get it.”
There’s an air of confidence hearing Inniss, Ryan Day and others talk about Sayin in the days leading up to Ohio State’s season-opening top-three clash with No. 1 Texas. They want him to know that he doesn’t need to be a hero; he just needs to do whatever it takes to score one more point than the Longhorns.
And they want him to know that they have his back.
“The message is just win, find a way to win,” Day said. “I think when you start setting expectations, you can get yourself out of whack. We're going to take it one play at a time. He's got a good group of guys around him. He's got a good defense. He's got good special teams, a good offensive line, good skill guys. He needs to lean into those players and find a way to win the game. We'll try to get him into a rhythm and then go from there, and that's really it. It's a start.”
There’s not a lot of game experience to go off of for Sayin entering his first collegiate start in such a hyped clash. He threw a measly 12 passes as a freshman in 2024, completing five of them for 84 yards and a touchdown.
“Something just hit me. Let me just shoot him a text real quick and just tell him I'm proud of him. Let's go. Let's go get it.”– Brandon Inniss on why he felt the need to text Julian Sayin
But there’s a first time for everyone in any endeavor. The offseason, from improving his mobility and packing weight onto his frame in Ohio State’s strength and conditioning program to developing his command of the huddle, has been about preparing Sayin for this moment. Day feels Sayin has all the traits required of a leader under center.
“I think for every quarterback, they have to find their own voice and lead,” Day said. “We talk about how do you lead. And you've heard me say this before, it's about who you are as a person, your character. I think he has high character. His connection, I think he connects well. He's found his voice, I believe, here in preseason. And then his competency is how well he's going to play in the game. And if you can do all of those things, you can lead.”
Sayin won the starting job officially on the Monday following the Buckeyes’ second intrasquad scrimmage of preseason camp; Aug. 18, to name the date. It’s the same timing as when Justin Fields, C.J. Stroud and Will Howard were announced as Ohio State’s starters by Day. The former two became first-round NFL draft picks, and the latter a national champion. A good omen, perhaps.
Decision-making will be critical in a game where one or two turnovers could swing the matchup. Execution on the margins, third-down, finishing drives with touchdowns; all those elements will be key to a successful first start for Sayin. All those areas have grown for him across the last 10 days since he won the job.
“We've challenged him to have command of that huddle, have command of the game plan, and then make great decisions and obviously play well on third down and red zone and two-minute (drill),” Day said. “So now it's time to go put it on the field. But you're definitely seeing a lot of changes with him and a lot of growth.”
Inniss has seen Sayin grab the reins of the offense. Both he and Day described him as getting more “comfortable” with time in preseason camp.
“It was a couple weeks ago, I think, but I've seen him step up and say some things in the huddle to us that got us going,” Inniss said. “Coach Day announced him as QB1, ever since then, you can see a different step in his game. Honestly, you just see him much more comfortable out there, making plays left and right and doing what he do.”
When it comes to easing Sayin in through simple completions to develop a rhythm, Day didn’t commit to anything. The play calls will depend a lot on the game situation and matchups, he said. And he also wants Sayin to take shots when available.
“Take care of the ball, win the game,” Day said. “If you need to throw it away, throw it away. Don't worry about anything else other than win the game. Win the game, it’s going to be a heck of a night. So that's the most important thing, and that's the job of the quarterback. So that will be my message to him. And then, ultimately, you've got to go trust your training. You can't play it close. When it's time to let it rip, you've got to let this thing rip.”
Inniss and Sayin’s other teammates have seen it in practice. They’re instilling all their combined faith in him. In the immortal words of Al Davis: Just win, baby.
“Play you, do you,” Inniss said. “You've been ready for this moment your whole life. Don't make it bigger than what it is, but know the expectations that we all have from you. You're going to do great. We're here for you. And just win the game.”
