If Caleb Downs decided the Heisman Trophy winner, he would cut it in half and give one part to Julian Sayin and the other part to Jeremiah Smith.
“I feel like they could just give it to Ohio State and really just name two people as Heisman,” Caleb Downs said. “That would be great.”
While Sayin and Smith would likely agree, the humble Buckeyes picked each other to win the stiff-arm trophy this season.
“Jeremiah Smith. I mean, the guy is special. He’s a great player,” Sayin said. “I don’t know his stats today, but he had a great day, was making some great catches, had the one touchdown catch. He’s a special player.”
“That’s Julian Sayin’s trophy right there. The Heisman goes to Julian Sayin,” Smith said. “Best player in the country. Best player in the country.”
Downs, Sayin and Smith were three of eight Ohio State players to meet with the media after the game. The remaining Buckeyes included offensive tackle Ian Moore, tight end Max Klare, defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, linebacker Sonny Styles and cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. We've collected all of their best comments and quotes below.
QB Julian Sayin
“Jeremiah Smith. I mean, the guy is special. He’s a great player. I don’t know his stats today, but he had a great day, was making some great catches, had the one touchdown catch. He’s a special player.” – Julian Sayin when asked to name his Heisman Trophy pick
- On Ohio State’s performance against Purdue: “There were some things we want to clean up, things we got to get better — you know, in the red zone, we can’t turn the ball over — things to learn from. But overall, I thought we did some good things as well. I think just keep growing every week and getting better each week.”
- When asked about his interceptions, Sayin said he was “reckless with the football.” Sayin said he will learn from the experience.
- On Carnell Tate missing the Purdue game: “Carnell is obviously a great player, makes a lot of impact. It was awesome to see some of the young guys step up and make some great catches. Bryson Rodgers, Mylan Graham, Brandon Inniss, obviously, playing a lot.”
- While the Heisman Trophy conversation will continue to surround Sayin and Smith for the rest of the season, Sayin said the Buckeyes will remain focused on team success, not individual awards.
WR Jeremiah Smith
“That’s Julian Sayin’s trophy right there. The Heisman goes to Julian Sayin. … Best player in the country. Best player in the country.”– Jeremiah Smith when asked to name his Heisman Trophy pick
- On his performance against Purdue: “It feels good. Just another day in the office. … But it’s all about us staying consistent. That’s all that matters.”
- Smith praised Mylan Graham and Bryson Rodgers for being ready to play when Ohio State learned it would be without Carnell Tate against Purdue. “It shows that we got guys all around us that can play. Carnell went down, which is sad for us, but we got Mylan Graham, we got Bryson Rodgers, and all the guys that we’re doing it, making plays today.”
- On his chemistry with Julian Sayin: “A lot of hard work that went into that. From this offseason, the spring, fall camp as well — y’all are just seeing a byproduct of everything. There’s a lot of hard work that went into that.”
- Smith said it would mean a lot to him and a lot to Ohio State for both he and Sayin to be in New York City for the Heisman Trophy ceremony.
CB Jermaine Mathews Jr.
“I really think nobody in the country can really hang with us, in my opinion. I think if we just go out there every Saturday and play our game, we won’t have too much to worry about.”– Jermaine Mathews Jr. on Ohio State’s consistency
- On his interception: “I said thanks to Caleb Downs. He deflected it. I tried to grab it. I tried to score it, though. I tried to get in that end zone. But yeah, great play, good turning point of the game.”
- Mathews said Ohio State has a great mindset in approaching every game. “Just every day getting better. Every day, don’t take no opponent fr granted. Anything can happen on any given Saturday, so just come here with the right mindset, ready to dominate.”
- On whether he has a knack for the ball and making plays: “I think it’s just something I do — try to make plays, make as much plays as possible, and just try to get the ball back for the offense.”
TE Max Klare
“It was really cool. I mean, to come back to Purdue — I have a lot of love for Purdue, everything they’ve done for me, from academic level to the field level. There’s so many great people here, and I wouldn’t trade my time here for anything.” – Max Klare on his return to Purdue
- Klare with more on his return to Purdue: “I’m really grateful for Purdue and grateful to be back here. … It was a lot of fun. I had a lot of fun out there, especially just, you know, looking across the field and seeing my brother. Cool experience, for sure.”
- On Julian Sayin: “He just continues to grow his game, continues to believe in himself, even with all the outside noise. He’s impressive, for sure.”
- Klare said he was disappointed when Bo Jackson’s 75-yard touchdown run was called back. However, he was encouraged to see the Buckeyes finally break off a long run. “It’s great to have any running back break his explosive. It gives our team energy. You know, we love that, especially to start off the game like that. Obviously, it’s a tough call, but a play like that gives us a lot of energy going forward.”
OT Ian Moore
“I’m just blessed to be out there. I’m grateful for this opportunity. I’m actually — it’s even better to be kind of (in my) hometown. I grew up 20 minutes away from here.” – Ian Moore on making his first start for Ohio State
- Moore said he had four of his friends, his mom, his sisters and his dad at Ross-Ade Stadium to watch him make his first career start. Moore said he learned he would start for the Buckeyes on Thursday.
- Moore said he wasn’t thinking about nerves before, during or after the first play of his first start. He was just trying to catch his breath. “I was just trying to catch my breath. I was in the end zone. I was in the end zone with Bo (Jackson), so running down 70 yards, running back,” Moore said with a laugh.
- On Ohio State’s offensive line: “I think we’ve got the best offensive line in the country. I think we’ve got the best offensive line depth in the country. I mean, we’ve got five dudes that have played, you’ve got Ethan (Onianwa), who played at Rice. I think we’ve got the best depth and the best offensive line in the country.”
LB Sonny Styles
“He’s awesome. He’s a ball player. He just makes plays in a bunch of different ways. Interceptions, blitzes, PBUs, whatever it may be. Outside corner, inside corner, he’s trying to do a little bit of everything, so he does a great job.” – Sonny Styles on Jermaine Mathews Jr.
- Styles said Ohio State’s second-team defense will learn from their experience at the end of the game. He said nobody on the defense wants to allow a touchdown, but allowing one teaches the players valuable lessons.
- Styles said Ohio State’s depth being game-ready will prove crucial as the Buckeyes enter the home stretch.
- Styles said Ohio State’s defense has a “bend don’t break” mindset whenever it allows an explosive play.
S Caleb Downs
“I feel like they could just give it to Ohio State and really just name two people as Heisman. That would be great.”– Caleb Downs on whether Julian Sayin or Jeremiah Smith should win the Heisman
- Downs picked Sayin as his Heisman winner, but he said both Sayin and Smith are “playing at a high level right now.”
- Eddrick Houston joined the gathered reporters and asked Downs who his favorite player on the team is. Downs said, “Eddrick Houston.”
- Downs said Ohio State emphasized getting off the field on third down during their practices this week. “Last week we didn’t really do that at a high level. We gave up a couple of plays on third down that we shouldn’t have gave up, so just being really intentional this week about it.”
DT Kayden McDonald
“My best football is yet to come. Just keep working.” – Kayden McDonald on his performance through nine games
- McDonald praised Ohio State’s offensive line for its performance on Saturday being down Joshua Padilla and Phillip Daniels. “The whole offensive line is the best in the country. Each guy and every guy, they come to work every day. On Saturdays, it shows all five guys working together.”
- McDonald had similar praise for Ohio State’s running backs. “Something the coaches always say, iron sharpens iron. All those guys, Bo Jackson, Isaiah West, CJ Donaldson, James Peoples, they play really hard and practice really hard. It shows.”
- On Ryan Day saying Ohio State’s 2025 team has a business-like approach: “Because it’s not about (our opponent). It’s about us. Each week, each practice, each game, we got to get better because we got goals in mind. (We want to) play scary, never be comfortable, never stay complacent and always be ready to play and have an edge.”
