Ohio State head coach Ryan Day announced that Julian Sayin would be the starting quarterback for the Buckeyes in Week 1 against Texas, but apparently, Day won't be the one on the microphone for his young quarterback.
Day has announced that he will let offensive coordinator Brian Hartline and quarterbacks coach Bill Fessler be on the microphone in Sayin's ear on the field. He will speak with Sayin on the sideline, but noted that he didn't want too many voices in in ear while he is in the game.
Ryan Day says he’ll let offensive coordinator Brian Hartline and quarterbacks coach Billy Fessler handle the in-game communication with Julian Sayin when he’s on the field. Day will talk to Sayin when he’s on the sideline, but doesn’t want to have too many voices in Sayin’s ear…
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) August 28, 2025
While Day does work with Sayin in practices, the guys working with him the most are Hartline and Fessler, so to make the choice to have them in his ear on the field makes perfect sense. Both coaches will be the ones calling the plays for Sayin before he goes into the huddle. Now, communication is cut off once the play clock hits 15 seconds, so as long as both coaches can coordinate how to relay information to Sayin, that shouldn't be a problem.
Sayin is set to make his first start for the Buckeyes this weekend as Ohio State and Texas will have a rematch from the College Football Playoff Semifinals from last season. Sayin did not play in that game, and now he will face a different Texas defense. Sayin won't be the only new full-time starter as Texas will have Arch Manning on the other side of the field making his first start as the Longhorns' newest QB1.
Last season, Manning was able to show a little of what he has, but as the Heisman favorite and the potential first overall pick in next year's NFL Draft, he still has a lot to prove this year. Ohio State has the chance to make a statement if it can shut Manning down in Week 1.