Following a storybook season that ended in a national championship, Ohio State is entering a new era at quarterback.
With Will Howard off to the NFL Draft, the Buckeyes will look to a new leader under center – and Howard himself has a strong opinion on who should take the reins.
“Now it’s his time,” Howard said, referring to redshirt freshman Julian Sayin.
Sayin, a former five-star recruit, transferred to Ohio State from Alabama following the retirement of legendary coach Nick Saban.
The Carlsbad, California native was widely regarded as one of the top prospects in the 2024 recruiting cycle, ranked as the No. 1 quarterback and the No. 6 overall player nationally, according to 247Sports.
Though Sayin only saw limited action in four games last season, the buzz around his talent has continued to build – and Howard’s endorsement adds even more weight to the growing expectations.
Howard, who transferred from Kansas State ahead of the 2024 season, put together a spectacular campaign in Columbus. He led the Big Ten in both passing yards (4,010) and touchdowns (35), while tossing just 10 interceptions.
His performance in the national title game – a 34-23 victory over Notre Dame – earned him MVP honors and secured Ohio State’s first national championship since 2014.
Head coach Ryan Day now faces a pivotal decision on who will lead the Buckeyes into 2025. While Sayin may be the favorite, he’s far from unchallenged.
Junior Lincoln Kienholz, a four-star prospect from the 2023 class, returns with another year of development under his belt. The 6-foot-3, 207-pound quarterback was ranked the No. 11 QB in his class.
“The past few years, I’ve had older guys in front of me and just getting to learn from them on how to be a leader and how to take control,” Kienholz said. “Now I’m the oldest guy in the room, so I feel that now, and I kind of feel more confident.”
Meanwhile, five-star freshman Tavien St. Clair – rated the No. 3 quarterback in the 2025 recruiting class – will also be in the mix.
Despite the competition, Sayin appears locked in on his personal growth and preparation.
“You have to block out the noise,” Sayin said. “I’m just focusing on spring practice and just getting better.”
The Buckeyes are set to begin their title defense with a blockbuster season opener against Texas on August 30 – a rematch of last year’s College Football Playoff semifinal in the Cotton Bowl.
Whoever wins the starting quarterback job will face high expectations right out of the gate, especially with Arch Manning and the Longhorns standing in the way.
While he was only in Columbus for one year, Howard will go down as a Buckeyes legend thanks to his dominant season which helped break Ohio State’s decade-long national title drought.
And if Howard’s instincts prove correct, the Julian Sayin era at Ohio State is officially set to begin.
What are your thoughts on Howard’s confidence in Sayin? … Is he definitely QB1 next season???
