There probably weren't many people that had Julian Sayin on their 2025 Heisman Trophy contender card before the season began, but the Buckeyes quarterback just gets better and better each week.
The sophomore is coming off of another game where he reached near statistical perfection, going 20-of-23 for 316 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-14 win over Penn State. Sayin has recently jumped ahead of Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza and is now the favorite in the FanDuel Heisman odds.
As the attention grows, Sayin has done a great job at not letting it get in the way of his ultimate goal — leading Ohio State to another national championship.
Asked about the Heisman attention he’s receiving, Ohio State QB Julian Sayin said it’s an “awesome feeling,” but he’s more worried about getting the Buckeyes to where they want to go. pic.twitter.com/ZwCh3nT3Ev
— Dillon Davis (@DillonDavis56) November 6, 2025
"It's an awesome feel but nothing happens without the team," Sayin said. "We're all focused on team success here. We've got a lot of great players here and guys are up for awards and on watch lists, but we're all focused on team success and how we can get better each and every week."
Sayin is showing he's more than a game manager
The Buckeyes quarterback walked into a high-pressure situation. Sayin moved into the starting spot after Will Howard led Ohio State to a college football playoff championship. And to add to the pressure, his first start was going to be against Texas and their high-profile quarterback Arch Manning.
Sayin wasn't perfect in that opener, but he was good enough to win. And week after week, the chemistry between him and the talented wide receivers grows. The coaches continue to trust Sayin to make the big-time throws and while the offense might not be as explosive as last year's, it is efficient and the mistakes have been limited.
He has thrown just three interceptions this season and none since Week 3. Sayin has only taken three sacks this season as well. His ability to keep the Buckeyes out of bad situations is possibly his greatest strength.
Is a showdown with Mendoza in the cards?
This is what we all want, right? 12-0 Ohio State vs 12-0 Indiana in the Big Ten championship game. The top two teams in the CFP rankings playing for all the marbles. The conference championship, the No. 1 seed in the playoffs (and the first-round bye) plus the Heisman Trophy. It could all be on the line at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 6.
But you'll probably never hear Sayin talk about it and that should make Buckeye fans feel good.