Despite Ohio State head coach Ryan Day describing the quarterback competition as “neck and neck,” Julian Sayin appears to be the clear frontrunner to become the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback for the 2025 season.
Julian Sayin, a 6-foot-1, 203-pound sophomore from Carlsbad, California, transferred to Ohio State from Alabama in January 2024He was widely regarded as the top quarterback prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, earning five-star status and accolades such as the MVP of the 2023 Elite 11 Finals citeturn0search1In high school, Sayin amassed 7,824 passing yards, 85 touchdowns, and just 10 interceptions over three seasons citeturn0search1 During his brief tenure at Alabama, Sayin participated in four games, completing 5-of-12 passes for 84 yards and one touchdown, while also rushing for 24 yards on two attempts citeturn0search6
The primary contenders for the starting quarterback position are Sayin, freshman Tavien St. Clair, and third-year sophomore Lincoln Kienhol. Kienholz, a versatile multi-sport athlete from South Dakota, has shown promise but lacks significant college experience citeturn0news13. St. Clair, though highly regarded, is still developing and may be behind the others in terms of readiness citeturn0search5.
Coach Ryan Day has emphasized the importance of leadership and toughness in his quarterbacks, noting that the competition remains opn He stated, “They’re young. We need them to be tough. We need them to be a leader,” highlighting the developmental nature of the position battle citeturn0search
Ohio State fans have shown strong support for Sayin, with many predicting him to secure the starting rl. A recent fan survey indicated that Sayin is the favored candidate to win the quarterback competition, despite Coach Day’s assertion that the race remains tight
As the Spring Game approaches, all eyes will be on the quarterback posiin. While Coach Day maintains that the competition is ongoing, Julian Sayin’s impressive credentials and the confidence expressed by fans and teammates alike suggest that he is well-positioned to lead the Buckeyes in the 2025 seson.
