Ryan Day Believes Julian Sayin is College Football’s Best Returning Quarterback, Expects “Huge Offseason” from Ohio State QB

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has expressed strong confidence in quarterback Julian Sayin's ability to lead the Buckeyes to a national championship in 2026. Despite Ohio State's postseason struggles, with losses to Indiana and Miami, Day believes Sayin is the best returning quarterback in college football. Sayin, who was a Heisman Trophy finalist in his first year as a starter, led the FBS with a 77% completion rate in 2025, the third-best in FBS history.

Day highlighted Sayin's impressive statistics, including the highest passer rating (177.5) among returning quarterbacks and the third-most touchdown passes (32) among his peers. Sayin, who will be a redshirt sophomore in 2026, was the only underclassman Heisman finalist in the past three years.

While there are areas for improvement, particularly in Sayin's ability to make plays with his legs and over the middle of the field, Day remains optimistic about Sayin's potential growth