A 56-3 win over Ball State showcased the version of him that turned him into a Heisman Trophy finalist last year. He was explosive, throwing for 320 yards and three touchdowns. But he was also efficient, completely all but four of his 25 pass attempts.

The top-ranked team in the nation relied on its star trio of returning starters.

Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin's starting experience has brought a bigger leadership role and deeper knowledge of an evolving offense.

Julian Sayin threw for 320 yards and three touchdowns, while Ohio State's ground game and defense combined to overwhelm Ball State in a 49-3 blowout.

The No. 1-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes opened the 2026 college football season with a 56-3 victory over the Ball State Cardinals, powered by standout performances from returning juniors Jeremiah Smith and Julian Sayin.

Julian Sayin’s main focus during Ohio State’s fall camp last year was on winning the starting quarterback job.

In a recent poll of 18 coaches conducted by The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman, an anonymous Big Ten running backs coach expressed skepticism about the hype surrounding Jeremiah Smith . He claimed that using Cover-2 coverage could effectively neutralize the Ohio State Buckeyes’ star wide receiver,

Freshly named as an Ohio State captain, quarterback Julian Sayin is steering the Buckeyes into a noticeably different offensive direction. The biggest upgrade isn’t just a new playbook, but the arrival of offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.

Compare Ohio State Heisman Trophy odds on Polymarket. See how prediction markets value quarterback Julian Sayin and wideout Jeremiah Smith.