Going into his second year as Ohio State’s starting quarterback, Julian Sayin is embracing the spotlight and expectations that surround his position.
The spotlight was on Sayin once again as he made an appearance at the Panini America Mobile Tour’s stop at Midwest Cards in downtown Columbus on Wednesday. Ohio State fans and memorabilia collectors lined up for the opportunity to take pictures with Ohio State’s quarterback and receive free FIFA World Cup Sticker Albums from Panini as the United States prepares to host the international soccer tournament.
Sayin was all smiles as he met Buckeye fans who were excited to share a moment with the Ohio State quarterback. But he’s also hard at work looking to improve entering his second season, as the returning Heisman Trophy finalist knows he’s expected to be even better in 2026 than he was in 2025.
“Just having that experience, you kind of know what it is to be the quarterback here, and you know everything that comes with it and the expectations,” Sayin said.
The expectation for Sayin and the entire Ohio State football program is to win championships, a goal the Buckeyes fell short of with their Big Ten Championship Game loss to Indiana and College Football Playoff quarterfinal loss to Miami (Florida) last season. Sayin and his teammates are hungry to make up for that in 2026.
“I think our whole program does,” Sayin said when asked if he has a chip on his shoulder entering 2026. “We didn't end the way we wanted to, we wanted to get a championship trophy, and it didn't end that way. So I think the whole program has a chip on our shoulder from that this year.”
Despite completing a school-record 77% of his passing attempts last season – the third-highest completion percentage in FBS history – Sayin has been the subject of plenty of discourse this offseason about just how good he actually is, especially in regards to whether he’ll be a first-round pick if he enters next year’s NFL draft. While Sayin’s full focus is on playing for Ohio State right now, the redshirt sophomore feels like he does have something to prove entering this season.
“I think the day you stop having something to prove is the day you stop improving,” Sayin said.
“We didn't end the way we wanted to, we wanted to get a championship trophy, and it didn't end that way. So I think the whole program has a chip on our shoulder from that this year.”– Julian Sayin on Ohio State’s motivation entering 2026
A Carlsbad, California native, Sayin went home to spend some time with family and friends as the Buckeyes had a few weeks off following the spring semester. Although he took some time to relax while he was back in California, Sayin said his preparation for the season was still on his mind.
“I think there's definitely a balance of you spend your time relaxing. You don't really fully take your mind off football because you love the game, you think about it all the time, but you spend some time relaxing,” Sayin said. “But I was texting (offensive coordinator Arthur) Smith throughout the time I was home.”
Now that Sayin is back in Columbus, he’s participating in regular throwing sessions with Ohio State’s receivers to build chemistry while also working to continue developing physically during summer workouts.
“Summer is all about what you're doing in the weight room, getting stronger and faster, and keep getting better on the field throughout our workouts,” Sayin said. “I've gotten a good bit stronger just because being with (director of sports performance Mickey Marotti), he does such a great job, and so it's been great to be working with him.”
Sayin didn’t want to share specifics about how Ohio State’s offense has changed this offseason under Arthur Smith, but he’s excited about what the Buckeyes’ new offensive coordinator has brought to the table. Asked to describe Smith’s offense in one word, Sayin said the offense will be “exciting.”
“He's done a lot of great things,” Sayin said. “You gotta wait for the fall and see. It's going to be exciting.”
Sayin is one of eight returning starters on Ohio State’s 2026 offense along with wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Brandon Inniss, running back Bo Jackson and offensive linemen Austin Siereveld, Luke Montgomery, Carson Hinzman and Phillip Daniels. That gives Sayin good reason for confidence that the Buckeyes’ offense will improve despite scoring only 24 points in their final two games of last season, but he knows the onus is on him – alongside Ohio State’s other veterans – to lead the way.
“We have a couple guys who are returning and played a lot of football for us last year. I think we have to kind of drive the pace and kind of show the way,” Sayin said.
