It’s a good time to be an Ohio State Buckeye. Ranked No. 1 across top polls and boasting an elite defense that somehow improved from last year, the burden is really on Julian Sayin for this team to repeat as champions. Ohio State head coach Ryan Day is slowly introducing Sayin to more concepts and aggression each week, and the strategy has been brilliant.
Fans love seeing Sayin’s natural talent. The redshirt freshman is at least as good a thrower as CJ Stroud was, which is a huge compliment. Sayin will need to prove it under pressure against elite foes, but his 80.2% completion rate, 10.4 yards per attempt, and 13 touchdowns are an incredible start to his tenure.
He’s been so good that former Ohio State star quarterback Troy Smith, program legend and the last Heisman Trophy winner from the program, had to make a statement on Sayin.
Troy Smith sells Julian Sayin’s sales pitch as next Ohio State Heisman winner
Smith shared the following on X:
“Gotta talk about straight facts. If the kid at Texas would’ve had the start that @juliansayin2 is having here for our @OhioStateFB, he’d be 1st in @Heisman votes, @daveyobrien talks, and any other major Awards at the end of the season, put some respect on what he’s doin..🤨”
Advertisement
View the original article to see embedded media.
Smith had a remarkable career at Ohio State, where he evolved from a versatile athlete into one of the most celebrated quarterbacks in Buckeye history. After redshirting in 2002, Smith saw limited action in 2003 before stepping into the starting role midway through the 2004 season. He quickly made an impact, leading Ohio State to a 4–1 finish that year, including a standout performance against Michigan, where he accounted for 386 total yards and three touchdowns.
In 2005, Smith solidified his role as the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback, guiding the team to a 10–2 record. He threw for 16 touchdowns and rushed for 11 more, showcasing his dual-threat capabilities. His leadership and clutch play were evident in a dramatic comeback win over Michigan and a dominant Fiesta Bowl victory over Notre Dame. Smith became the first quarterback in Ohio State history to throw for 2,000 yards and rush for 500 yards in the same season.
Advertisement
Smith’s senior season in 2006 was historic. He led Ohio State to a perfect 12–0 regular-season record and a berth in the BCS National Championship game. That year, he threw for a school-record 30 touchdowns and became only the second Buckeye quarterback to go 3–0 against Michigan. His performance in the 42–39 win over the Wolverines, where he threw four touchdown passes and surpassed 300 yards of total offense, was a defining moment.
Smith’s excellence was recognized with a landslide Heisman Trophy win, earning the second-largest margin of victory in the award’s history. He also received numerous other honors, including the Walter Camp, Davey O’Brien, and AP Player of the Year awards.
window.addEventListener(‘message’, function (event) {if (event.data.totalpoll && event.data.totalpoll.action === ‘resizeHeight’) {document.querySelector(‘#totalpoll-iframe-1524’).height = event.data.totalpoll.value;}}, false);document.querySelector(‘#totalpoll-iframe-1524’).contentWindow.postMessage({totalpoll: {action: ‘requestHeight’}}, ‘*’);
This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Oct 9, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
