Julian Sayin is squarely on Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian's radar as the Longhorns and Buckeyes count down the days until the big game.
Week 2's main event showdown between OSU and UT could be the regular season's biggest television event of the year. Two NIL heavyweights will close their home-and-home series in Austin after the Buckeyes took the last one at the "Shoe."
While Sark does the offensive play-calling for the Longhorns and won't be directly game-planning against Sayin, -- that's Will Muschamp's job -- Sarkisian knows the Ohio State matchup will define his team's CFP resume. He can't allow a national audience to see his team beaten down like Texas was last year against Georgia.
Under the lights at DKR Stadium this Saturday, Sayin's abilities all over the field will be respected and game-planned against.
That includes his newfound willingness to make plays with his legs. He proved that on a fourth-and-goal try in the second quarter against Ball State. Sayin escaped pressure from Cardinals RUSH Layton Stark in a play that ended up being an Ian Moore pancake and six for the Scarlet and Gray.
Sarkisian grouped Sayin's improvements with his own quarterback, Arch Manning, while previewing the matchup on Monday. To Sark, these two quarterbacks are markedly improved since last season.
“I just think you see the level of confidence that both guys are playing with. I think what you notice is the presence in the pocket. I think you notice their confidence to use their legs," Sarkisian said.
“I just think the confidence both guys deliver the ball with, with accuracy. You can see the trust in timing. Pretty drastic difference of the two players now the second time around going up against one another, so it should be pretty high-level quarterback play Saturday."
What did Ryan Day say about Arch Manning?
Ryan Day, like Sark, is an offensive mastermind. Stopping Arch is Matt Patricia's problem, but Day, a former quarterback at New Hampshire, could certainly appreciate what he sees in the next in the legendary Manning family line.
Day didn't just praise Manning, but the entire Longhorns roster after his team's 56-3 win over the Cardinals.
To complete the coach-speak sundae, he put the cherry on top with a comment that the schedule has several matchups of this caliber.
“Obviously a great opponent,” Day said. "They have really good talent across the board, so going down there is something that we’ve been working towards all summer and looking forward to. They have a great program and a great team, so it’s going to be a great environment, but this is what we’re going to have to do this year when you look at our schedule. We’re going to have to go on the road and win games like this, so our offseason was all designed around this, so it’s here. Time to go prepare for these guys.”
There are major Big Ten games on the schedule, no doubt. In terms of non-conference clashes, this takes the cake this season.
Who holds the edge in the QB battle between Ohio State and Texas?
When it comes to who has the edge between Sayin and Manning, it really might not be on either of their individual abilities. Instead, the opposite pass rushes will determine which quarterback is under more pressure and, ipso facto, who is making more mistakes.
Who dominates the edge will determine that edge, if you will.
Colin Simmons and Lance Jackson didn't threaten Texas State quarterback Brad Jackson off the edge as much as most would've thought going into it. Texas's defense had a pressure rate of just 24%. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes had a 37.8% pressure rate against Ball State quarterback Keldric Luster and Co.
The secondaries on both sides could take advantage of sloppy quarterback play. Mucking things up for Manning and Sayin in the pocket is critical. Both can do damage if left with too much time to operate.
The offensive lines have quite the responsibility to enable their superstar quarterbacks to shine on such a big stage. They will obviously determine the quarterback battle's result, too.
It's all too close to call right now. That's what makes Saturday such a spectacle between these two college football titans.
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