The Buckeyes will look to add a ninth national championship when they line up against Notre Dame on Monday. As the team prepares for its date with destiny, Ryan Day will have one eye on the future already. OSU will have to decide who will be their starting quarterback for the third time in as many seasons once this campaign ends. Their current No. 1, Will Howard is heading for the NFL Draft, and third-choice quarterback Julian Sayin is eager to grab the opportunity.

Apart from Howard, Devin Brown, and Air Noland entering the transfer portal, leaving the OSU QB depth chart thin. Ryan Day may look to the transfer portal or convince a highly talented recruit to join them, but they do have a former five-star quarterback in Sayin available, who initially signed with Alabama in the 2024 class, before deciding to enter the transfer portal after Nick Saban’s retirement. But will he be able to convince Day to be his starting QB next season?

Sayin addressed his plans for the offseason while talking to 247Sports on Thursday. When asked about his expectations for the offseason, he simply stated he wants to get better every day and work on his craft.

The reporter then asked whether he would be taking over the quarterback for next season and Sayin replied, “I’m just taking it one day at a time trying to get better at my craft. You know, obviously, I’m excited to compete in the spring and compete in the fall camp, but you know just taking it one day at a time.” Sayin has been biding his time and realizes the opportunity is pretty much there to be taken.

As a freshman in 2024, he appeared in four games, completing five of his 12 passes for 84 yards and one touchdown. He had massive expectations coming into 2024 after signing with the Crimson Tide. He was the MVP of the 2023 Elite 11 and finished his high school career with 7,824 passing yards, 85 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions for Carlsbad High School. This helped him earn the title of California’s No. 1 recruit. But he had to go down the pecking order after moving to Ohio on January 21, 2024. But his time is coming.

Siyan was also quick to give credit to Howard having been his understudy in this campaign. “He’s a great leader and I love watching him,” he said. Siyan’s possible rise to the top of OSU’s QB hierarchy and his choice of words will remind you of Arch Manning and his Texas journey.

Manning ranked as the No. 1 player in 2023, chose Texas over Alabama and Georgia with the goal of leading the team. However, he found that he would have to play second fiddle to Quinn Ewers, who was in his third year at the Longhorns. HC Steve Sarkisian, for better or for worse, was more than happy to overlook Manning in favor of Ewers, despite calls from fans to give the former Isidore Newman School recruit a chance.

Manning did get his chance to start when Quinn Ewers was out of the game for weeks, but remained on the sidelines once, Sarkisian’s preferred option was back in action. Yet, Manning chose patience.

In November, he clarified his stance on being behind Ewers at Texas. “I’ve learned a lot from Quinn, Maalik, and our coaches. Staying patient isn’t easy, but it’s essential.” He also went on to clarify his desire to prove himself at the program, adding, “There’s nowhere else I want to be. Playing for Texas was always the goal, and I’m not ready to give up on that.” With Ewers choosing to declare for the NFL Draft, Manning is primed to take the QB1 spot under Sarkisian and show them what he is capable of. Siyan is hoping for a similar turnaround.

He has learned from the best in Ryan Day and Chip Kelly and next season will be his chance to put those learnings to use. “I mean, they’ve done such a great job with quarterbacks. Yeah, they’ve done a really good job, and I, uh, just love playing for Coach Kelly and Coach Day, and they coached the position so well, so I’m really appreciative of them just teaching me more about the game,” he said.

However, Sayin’s path to the QB1 position in Ohio won’t be easy as there are a couple of more candidates eyeing to earn that spot.

Julian Sayin faces challenges from within OSU ranks

With Noland and Brown gone, and Howard in the NFL Draft Ohio State’s quarterback depth chart significantly thins. But don’t be fooled—Julian Sayin isn’t the only quarterback competing for the starting position. Enter Tavien St. Clair, the highly touted five-star recruit and third-ranked QB in the 2025 class.

St. Clair is also ready to make a splash in Columbus and appears ready to challenge Sayin for the job. As an Elite 11 finalist and invitee to the 2025 Navy All-American Bowl, he boasts impressive statistics from his senior season: 2,536 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, and a high school career total exceeding 10,000 yards and 100 touchdowns. But the competition does not end there.

With St. Clair’s arrival and other talented five-star recruits joining the roster, the pressure mounts on Lincoln Kienholz. Kienholz, entering his third season at Ohio State, faced a tough road as he ranked fourth on the QB depth chart in 2024. Speculation about his potential transfer circulates, but Kienholz remains uncertain, stating at the Rose Bowl, “I haven’t decided yet. We’ll see. But I love Ohio State, and I would love to stay here.”

Taking all these factors into consideration, it is evident that Julian Sayin’s path to securing the QB1 position could face obstacles, but he appears determined to make that spot his own during the offseason.