We’d be remiss not to mention that Sayin’s successful outing came against a Matt Patricia defense. The maligned former Detroit Lions head coach (2018-20) took over for Jim Knowles, who left for Penn State earlier this offseason.
Still, we can’t fault Sayin for doing what any other competent quarterback has done against Patricia-coached units in recent years.
Sayin originally enrolled at Alabama as 247Sports’ composite No. 1 quarterback during the 2024 recruiting rankings cycle but transferred to Ohio State following former Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban’s unexpected January 2024 retirement.
He takes over for Will Howard, who started all 16 games during the team’s 2024 title run. Howard led the Big Ten in completion percentage (73 percent), throwing for 35 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Ohio State also lost running backs TreVeyon Henderson (144 carries, 1,016 yards) and Quinshon Judkins (194 carries, 1,060 yards), wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (81 receptions, 1,011 yards), plus multiple defenders, including edge-rushers Jack Sawyer (nine sacks) and J.T. Tuimoloau (12.5 sacks), cornerback Denzel Burke (two interceptions) and defensive tackle Tyleik Williams (eight tackles for loss).
Most teams would expect a significant decline in on-field results with such significant departures, but not Ohio State.
Sayin has the potential to be a better playmaker than Howard, and the Buckeyes retained outstanding wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who burst on the scene as a freshman and could become Ohio State’s first Heisman winner since quarterback Troy Smith (2006) this December.
They could be college football’s most dangerous tandem this fall.
Sayin checked all the boxes in his first test as Ohio State’s prospective first-string quarterback. The defending national champions will look different this fall, but the result might be the same.