Ohio State football is led by quarterback Julian Sayin, who is embracing his leadership role and sky-high expectations for the Buckeyes.

In 2025, Julian Sayin set the FBS record for single-season completion percentage (77%) and earned himself a trip to New York as he finished fourth in Heisman trophy votes. Sayin also finished second in the Big Ten in both Pass Yards (3,610) and Touchdowns (41). With accolades like this in his first season as a starter, it’s hard to categorize it as an underperformance. However, at a program like Ohio State, given the Buckeyes’ 2026 season, there was still plenty left to be desired.

Now, football is a team sport in countless aspects, and there’s no question that issues stemming from a struggling offensive line impacted the final two games for Sayin. Despite that, the expectations for a Heisman-caliber quarterback should be to find ways to overcome or anticipate such issues. In OSU’s final two games, particularly against Miami, there were ample opportunities for Sayin to exploit the aggressiveness of the defense and keep his eyes downfield amongst the chaos.

Despite this, Julian is still more than capable of making these adjustments, and if anyone is aware of the glaring mistakes, it’s him. “I’m focused on the few plays that I wish I would have made that would have given us a chance to win those games. So, you definitely think about that. But I’m chasing to be the best version of myself.” Sayin said during spring media availability. Beyond that, Sayin and the coaching staff have made it a point to improve his mobility both inside and outside of the pocket.

Sayin ended up with -44 rushing yards in 2025. Even when you remove the sack yardage, he averaged 2.5 yards per carry. Coach Day has been adamant about this as well, saying, “His strength, as we all know, is that the ball comes out accurately in throwing the football. But making an impact with his legs when appropriate, we know that that’s the X-factor that has to show up this year.”

This doesn’t just apply to chunk yardage either. Sayin and the Buckeyes failed to convert on a key 4-and-1 on Indiana’s 5-yard line. His leg drive was noticeably not enough to break through for the all-important yard. This is something that the staff has also addressed: “I’ve done a lot of stuff with Coach Mick this offseason,” explained Sayin, “getting stronger, getting more powerful, and being able to run through tackles and things like that.”

Julian says he’s been able to pack on about 10 pounds. To be a successful quarterback in today’s college football, you have to be dynamic. Sayin and the coaching staff have been clear that this is the “X-factor” for him and the offense.

Apart from the physical and decision-making improvements, Sayin will have to build chemistry with a handful of new receivers. Devin McCuin, Kyle Parker, Chris Henry Jr., and Brock Boyd have all appeared to be, and been mentioned as, impact players heading into the fall. This, coupled with the fact that Brandon Inniss is supposedly stepping into a much bigger role, presents Sayin with yet another challenge.

This is especially important earlier in the season when Ohio State will be playing @Texas, Illinois, and @Iowa in three of the first five weeks. Not to mention the schedule as a whole, which is arguably the toughest in the country. Building chemistry with his new teammates throughout camp will not only be essential for the success of the offense, but a true test of Sayin’s strides as a leader.

Coach Day and Julian have been open about the fact that there’s room for growth as a leader: “I think I’m still working on that leadership role, too. I think I can still grow there, too. There’s no such thing as a vocal leader, so you have to take control of those guys, and it starts with the connection,” said Sayin during spring.

Of course, a QB’s leadership is key to a team’s overall chemistry. Perhaps more importantly, though, building that cohesiveness is an attribute that makes a team strong in the face of adversity. With a schedule that will test every aspect of this team and 51 new faces on the roster, adversity is all but guaranteed.

NEXT: Read Ryan Day’s Tenure: The Rarest Win in College Football Isn’t on the Scoreboard