Ohio State Buckeyes doesn’t do quarterback controversies—it does quarterback expectations. And in Columbus, those expectations are about defining eras. Will Howard did his job, but unfortunately, the quarterback’s stay at Columbus was brief. Day’s confidence is any indicator; the answer is already in the room. There’s no portal shopping this time, no splashy transfer move. Ryan Day said the 2025 QB1 is already wearing scarlet and gray. The only problem? Howard used up his final year of eligibility in 2024 and will be making the jump to the NFL, which leaves a major question for Ohio State under center.

Or does it, though? Right now, those options look very promising: former Alabama five-star transfer Julian Sayin, Lincoln Keinholz, and incoming five-star freshman Tavien St. Clair. Howard’s intangible qualities he brought to the huddle were invaluable.

According to insider Zach Smith, Howard wasn’t an elite talent—he was the right guy at the right time. “I mean, Will Howard was the beneficiary of coming into a situation where literally all he had to do was distribute the ba-l,” Smith said on College Football Addiction podcast. “Nothing special, just don’t throw interceptions, don’t turn the ba-l over. And I don’t know if they’re going to have the same luxury this year, but the one thing he brought that made him the perfect quarterback for this team was he had that moxie; he had that leadership,” Smith continued.

That might sound dismissive, but it’s a testament to how well-constructed this Ohio State offense was. “You watch him in the postgame, like after he played bad against Nebraska, and he’s like, ‘Yeah, I played awful, man. I just—I’m thankful for my teammates because I could have lost that one for us.’ Like, he just owned everything. People respected him.” That’s the bar the next Ohio State quarterback will have to meet, and right now, the spotlight is centered on Julian Sayin. The former five-star Tide transfer was a true freshman this past season, but his limited snaps already have fans eager for more.

Now #10 Sayin, who went 5-for-12 for 84 yards and a touchdown in brief action, is the real source of intrigue because of his potential. At 6’1” with a quick release and the type of pocket poise that made him a can’t-miss prospect coming out of high school, Sayin brings a different skill set to the table than the former Buckeyes QB1.

Will Howard showed that leadership in 2024, even when he wasn’t perfect. “To be honest, early in the year, he couldn’t throw the deep ba-l very well,” Smith noted. “He missed some throws, and they got really conservative with him, and he started getting better at it.”

And according to Ryan Day, the competition for the job is going to be relentless. “These guys are going to compete their tail off,” Day said on 97.1 FM in Columbus. “And we have some good quarterbacks in the system.” Day’s insistence on competition isn’t just lip service. St. Clair, in particular, has all the tools to push Sayin. At 6’4” “who looks like a NFL QB,” per Smith, he’s a prototypical Ryan Day quarterback: big, athletic, and built to make every throw in the playbook. While he lacks experience, Ohio State has never been afraid to throw a young quarterback into the fire if he proves he’s the best option.

But so does the 19-YO Sayin. The OSU insider revealed, “reports back from practice are Julian Sayin; he has a whip like he when the ba-l comes out of his hand it pops doesn’t look like a college quarterback looks like almost Spider-Man like just like a young kid. But he’s got the arm talent.” He also had a full season to learn the system, absorb the nuances of Big Ten football, and understand what it takes to lead an offense at this level.

Leadership is non-negotiable in this battle. The Buckeyes don’t just need a quarterback who can just sling it; they need one who commands the huddle, the locker room, and the moment. “I shared with all of them that now—this was the week leading up to the national championship game—that you had an opportunity to watch,” Day explained. “And so you got to really utilize that because that’s exactly what we’re looking for in a leader here at quarterback.” 

That’s the kind of growth curve Ohio State will need to see from 19YO Sayin, St. Clair, or whoever emerges as the starter.

Ryan Day’s new QB earns immense hype

The hype train for Julian Sayin is officially rolling, and it’s got no brakes. The five-star quarterback is set to take over at Ohio State, and expectations couldn’t be higher. Bleacher Report’s Brad Shepard believes Sayin isn’t just another top recruit—he could be one of the best quarterbacks in Buckeyes history. That’s a big-time statement for a program that has churned out elite QBs.

“He patiently waited behind Will Howard in 2024 while the veteran led the Buckeyes to a national title,” Shepard wrote. “But Sayin has the ability to be one of the best quarterbacks ever for a program known for developing guys under center. Yes, he has that potential.” Sayin isn’t just a big arm with flashy talent. According to Shepard, he’s super-intelligent, an elite leader, and has the it factor that NFL scouts drool over.

Sayin, the 2023 Gatorade California Player of the Year with a 66.5% completion rate, now has the starting QB job likely locked down after backup Devin Brown’s transfer. At 6’1” and 203 pounds, Julian Sayin was the top QB in the 2024 class, and Ohio State always felt like the right fit. He had strong ties with Ryan Day and Chip Kelly, who originally recruited him to UCLA. Now, he might step into the Buckeyes’ QB1 role—a job that comes with immense expectations. No doubt.

With Ohio State eyeing another title run and stars like Jeremiah Smith alongside him, Sayin is primed to make a serious impact from day one.