Ohio State Quarterback Julian Sayin Named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for Second Time This Season

The Ohio State redshirt freshman was dialed in against Minnesota, completing 23 of 27 passes for 326 yards and three touchdowns. His performance earns him a second Big Ten Freshman of the Week award in 2025, as he also received the accolade following the Buckeyes' win over Grambling State.

Another week, another big Julian Sayin stat line

@ifs x #PlayerOfTheWeek pic.twitter.com/8xLjbYo3GY

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 6, 2025

Sayin has been the most accurate quarterback in college football this season, completing 80.2 percent of his passes. Sayin's yards per completion (10.4) ranks No. 3 behind USC's Jayden Maiva (11.4) and Illinois' Luke Altmyer (10.6), and his passer rating (197) ranks No. 3 behind Marshall's Carlos Del Rio-Wilson (206.6) and Indiana's Fernando Mendoza (197.8).

Through five games, Sayin has completed 101 of 126 attempts for 1,313 yards, 13 touchdowns and three interceptions. The remainder of Ohio State's regular-season schedule offers Sayin several chances to air it out on opponents, as Illinois (No. 113 pass defense), Wisconsin (No. 97), Purdue (No. 105), Rutgers (No. 68) and Michigan (No. 59) have all struggled against the pass in 2025. Penn State (No. 16) and the school that beat the Nittany Lions on Saturday, UCLA (No. 26), have had more success in that area this fall.

Sayin and Ohio State defensive end Caden Curry are the two Buckeyes to earn Big Ten Player of the Week awards this season. Curry earned his last week after collecting 11 tackles, a school-record five tackles for loss and three sacks in Ohio State's 24-6 win over Demond Williams Jr. and the Washington Huskies.