Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin's legs are more important for his team's cause than most would think. While the 301-of-391-passer did most of his damage with his arm, Sayin had several impactful games against the Penn State Nittany Lions and TTUN with key runs that helped OSU take a lead the Buckeyes wouldn't give up on multiple occasions.
As Cleveland.com's Stephen Means pointed out, Ohio State's losses against the Miami Hurricanes in the Cotton Bowl Classic and Indiana Hoosiers in the Big Ten Championship featured a conspicuous absence of Sayin making something happen out of broken plays.
"Sayin’s legs haven’t been completely a non-factor. He has flashed in moments with his capacity to improvise when plays break down, whether it be evading rushers and running for first downs against Penn State, or simply keeping drives alive by taking the green, snowy grass in front of him against Michigan. But it didn’t happen nearly enough in 2025 to make defenses account for it, especially in the last two games of the season," Means wrote.
Arthur Smith can unlock new side of Julian Sayin
Arthur Smith's system will likely boost the running back room, particularly Bo Jackson and Isaiah West, but perhaps Sayin could also benefit in the ground game. Smith's "power attack" play-calling emphasizes physicality, something Sayin hasn't gone out of his way to embrace but certainly isn't immune to.
Smith's pro-style offense is closer to Brian Hartline's than Chip Kelly's spread offense, so there will be familiarity in most respects. Perhaps Smith can unlock the dog in Sayin that plays more like a dual-threat to keep defenses on their toes. RPO sets that put the ball in his hands and demand him to move the chains could become deadly if one of the transfer tight ends hits.
Now on his third offensive coordinator and second in a pro-style offense, Sayin could show NFL scouts that he's ready to be someone's QB1. The more versatility he shows, the more teams will want to plan their future around him.
Sayin can't be a statue in the pocket when the lights are brightest again. While far from the sole reason the Buckeyes didn't win the conference and failed to win a single CFP contest, Sayin's game being one-dimensional during the postseason was memorable enough for it to be remembered months later. It'll only stick in more minds if the trend continues on a downward trajectory.