Ohio State coach Ryan Day is looking for quarterback Julian Sayin to take a step forward as the Buckeyes open their Big Ten schedule this week.
“We have a high level of expectation for everybody,” Day said, “and that's just not the quarterback, but I think we all want a higher level of consistency.”
Sayin began this year as one of the most prominent passers in the country, the lone returning Heisman Trophy finalist, and he has thrown for 839 yards and six touchdowns over three games in 2026.
But he has also experienced uneven stretches, most glaringly when the Buckeyes suffered their stunning collapse at Texas on Sept. 12.
As the Buckeyes surrendered a 20-point lead of their high-profile nonconference game against the Longhorns, Sayin struggled
to help recapture momentum. He completed just 5 of 16 passes for 29 yards during the third and fourth quarters, including overthrowing wide receiver Devin McCuin for a potential touchdown.
Sayin regained his footing in a rout of Kent State the following week, spreading the ball around to more playmakers as he completed 18 of 22 passes for 241 yards and two touchdowns, though a handful of missed connections lingered.
“There's plays in that game that were sort of out of sync that definitely stick out,” Day said. “That is going to happen in games, but we want to be perfect, and we're going to need to be in order to get to where we need to be.”
Most of Sayin’s missed opportunities against the Golden Flashes were confined to a period in the second quarter.
After an interception by linebacker Riley Pettijohn set up the Buckeyes at Kent State’s 13-yard line, Sayin had two passes fall incomplete and took a sack on fourth down.
Before the pocket collapsed on the turnover on downs, Sayin had wide receiver Brandon Inniss open in the end zone, but missed him, as he acknowledged when they returned to the sideline.
“He immediately said it,” Day said. “He knew it. He owned it. It’s an opportunity to grow from.”
Day felt Sayin not only could have moved through his progressions at a faster rate to find Inniss, but also squirted loose through the line to extend the play or scramble for a first down or touchdown.
When Ohio State’s next series ended, it was when Sayin rolled right and sailed a pass high for star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.
“Overall, the protection has been solid,” Day said, “but we've got to trust our feet. We've got to get the ball out on time, and when it's time to make plays, we've got to make plays in terms of third down, red zone, because that's really where some of the biggest issues have shown up.”
The Buckeyes host Illinois in their conference opener on Sept. 26.
Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com and follow him on @joeyrkaufman on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ryan Day wants more from Ohio State football quarterback Julian Sayin
