The Decision

Ohio State has named sophomore Julian Sayin as its starting ⁢quarterback‍ for the highly anticipated 2025 ⁣season opener against the No. 1 ranked Texas Longhorns at Ohio Stadium. Coach ⁢Ryan Day announced the decision on Monday, August 18, 2025, emphasizing that Sayin earned the⁣ role through consistent performance, particularly over⁣ the past week. ⁣The competition ⁤with junior Lincoln Kienholz was close, but Sayin ultimately “separated himself,” according to Day.

Sayin’s Journey to the Starting Role

Sayin, ‍who was the nation’s No.⁢ 9 overall recruit and the top prospect from California in⁤ the 2024 class, began his collegiate career at Alabama.⁢ Following ‍the retirement of legendary ⁤coach Nick‍ Saban, he transferred to Ohio State. ‍In 2024, Sayin appeared in four⁢ games for the buckeyes, ⁣completing 5 of 12 passes for 84 yards and one touchdown⁤ across 27 snaps. ‍He⁣ entered the 2025 offseason as the frontrunner for the starting position, receiving positive⁣ feedback from departing ‍Ohio State players who went on to the NFL after the national championship season.

kienholz’s Contribution and the Depth⁤ chart

While Sayin secured the starting role, Coach Day stressed⁤ the importance of both quarterbacks. “Our guys are confident again with both quarterbacks; we’ll need both quarterbacks,” Day stated. lincoln Kienholz, who hasn’t seen game action sence the 2023 Cotton Bowl against Missouri (where he completed 6 of 17 ⁤passes for 86 yards), demonstrated critically important progress and athleticism during the competition. ‍He will serve as Sayin’s primary backup. Freshman ⁣ Tavien St. Clair,the No. 10 overall recruit in the 2025 class,‍ will round out the quarterback ⁣depth chart as⁢ the third-string option.

Day noted the difficulty of splitting practise reps as the game against Texas⁣ approaches, and Sayin’s recent consistency ultimately solidified his position as the starter. “You’re always⁣ looking for consistency and taking⁤ care of the football,” Day explained. ⁢”When you start with practice 1 in the spring and ⁢do a study on the entire growth over six months,‍ you ⁣can see there’s a lot of growth made.”

Looking Ahead: Preparing for Texas

The Buckeyes⁤ are preparing to face a formidable Texas team,whom they⁤ defeated in the college ⁢Football Playoff semifinal at the ⁢Cotton Bowl in January. Day emphasized the need for both ⁤Sayin and Kienholz to ⁤be prepared, acknowledging that both will likely‍ see playing time throughout ⁢the season. Kienholz reportedly handled the news of not ⁣being named the starter with ‍maturity and continued to practice with positive energy, understanding his role is vital to the team’s success.

Day Addresses Michigan Penalties

During the press conference, coach Day declined ‍to comment on the‍ NCAA penalties levied⁤ against rival Michigan for a sign-stealing scandal.⁢ These penalties include a significant fine and a three-game suspension for coach Sherrone Moore, with two of those games occurring ‍during the 2025 season.