The Ohio State Buckeyes were one of the top National Championship contenders in college football last season behind the Heisman Trophy caliber play from first-year starting quarterback Julian Sayin.
Despite coming up short of the expectations and losing to the Miami Hurricanes in their first College Football Playoff matchup, the hype surrounding Ohio State will be sky high again in 2026. That has to do with the fact that the Buckeyes’ offense is returning elite talent, including Sayin and superstar wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.
Sayin finished his first season as the Ohio State starter completing 77 percent of his pass attempts for 3,610 yards, 32 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
While the numbers were great, the Buckeyes are going to need even more from him in 2026. That is something head coach Ryan Day made very clear recently.
Ryan Day Gets Honest About What Ohio State Needs From Julian Sayin
As shared by Chase Brown of Eleven Warriors, Day expects more from his quarterback in 2026. He said that Sayin needs to make more plays in his second season as the starter.
“We know that’s the X-factor that has to show up this year,” Day said.
There are certainly ways that Sayin could improve his game. However, it would also be fair to say that the young signal caller made more than his fair share of plays last season.
Ohio State will need a more consistent running game in 2026. Bo Jackson, who will be heading into his sophomore season with the Buckeyes, will aim to be the guy who can supply that element to the offense.
Speaking of Jackson, he is also returning after a stellar freshman season that saw him carry the football 179 times for 1,090 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 6.1 yards per attempt. He also caught 19 passes for 200 yards and a score, showing off his dual-threat ability.
Sayin Has the Supporting Cast for an Even Bigger 2026 Season
On the outside looking in, Sayin will be in a situation that most college quarterbacks can only dream of in 2026. He’ll have Jackson in the backfield and Smith out wide, just like last year. However, Ohio State is adding another elite wide receiver.
Chris Henry Jr. will be making his name known in Columbus. The five-star recruit is expected to make a similar impact to what Smith produced during his freshman season.
At this point in time, there are no excuses for the Buckeyes’ offense to be anything other than elite. With Sayin leading the way, Ohio State is going to begin the season as a top-tier National Championship contender once again.
That being said, Day knows that the Buckeyes will only go as far as Sayin can take them. He is truly the most important X-Factor heading into the 2026 season.
Ohio State HC Ryan Day Gets Brutally Honest About Julian Sayin