Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, right, and offensive lineman Carson Hinzman participate in a drill during NCAA college football practice in Columbus, Ohio, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)

COLUMBUS — When Ryan Day announced Monday that Julian Sayin will be Ohio State’s starting quarterback in its opener against Texas on Aug. 30 he portrayed the competition between Lincoln Kienholz and Sayin for the No.1 quarterback’s job at OSU as very close.

Many people on the outside thought all along that the end result when Day picked a starter would be the redshirt freshman Sayin winning out over Kienholz, a redshirt sophomore. But the Ohio State coach insisted Sayin and Kienholz made it a close competition throughout spring practice and preseason camp until recently.

“I just think it’s been a great competition,” Day said. “It was a close competition. I think we all feel confident both guys can win a game for us. I think Julian separated himself over the last week with his consistent play.”

Asked what stood out about Sayin, Day said, “He’s smart, poised, has good composure, can see it, has good timing and has really built confidence and command as time has gone on. You see the accuracy, you see the ball getting out of his hand quickly, the ability to run the offense and get us into the right play, make the decisions, throw it away when we need to and obviously take care of the football.

“He can put the ball in tight spaces when he needs to. He has a good feel for the pocket. All those things were areas we recognized that he has taken some steps forward in the preseason,” he said.

Sayin was ranked as the No.1 high school quarterback nationally in the 2024 recruiting class in 247sports’ composite rankings.

He signed with Alabama and enrolled there in January 2024 but entered the transfer portal on Jan. 19, 2024 nine days after the Crimson Tide’s legendary coach Nick Saban announced his retirement.

Sayin committed to Ohio State on Jan. 21, 2024.

Sayin was the No. 3 quarterback at OSU last season behind Will Howard and Devin Brown. He completed 5 of 12 passes for 84 yards, including a 55-yard touchdown pass to Bennett Christian, last season.

Howard was a sixth-round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Brown transferred to the University of California where he is the No.2 quarterback going into this season.

Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline also spoke during the press conference at which Day named Sayin the starter and offered his assessment of the Buckeyes’ new quarterback.

Hartline said, “He’s done a good job of being consistent and taking care of the football. He’s done a good job of giving guys an opportunity to make plays. It’s a body of work, it’s not one play here, one play there.”