The biggest buzz in Columbus this spring isn’t about a new offensive scheme, but a new makeover that has Buckeye Nation in disbelief. Starting quarterback Julian Sayin shared a message on social media ahead of the spring ball, commencing on March 10. But what got people talking was not anything football related, rather it was his haircut.

On February 20, Julian Sayin popped up in a hype video alongside Jeremiah Smith promoting the Buckeye Sports Group Spring Game. 

“What’s up, Buckeye Nation? Can’t wait to see you guys at the Buckeye Sports Group Spring Game on April 18th,” Smith said to the camera. 

Standing behind him, holding jerseys, Julian Sayin added, “We got some cool memorabilia for you guys and signed jerseys. We’ll see you guys April 18th in The Shoe. Go Bucks!” 

At first, it’s just standard stuff until fans zoomed in because Julian Sayin didn’t look like Julian Sayin. The usual “Cali-style” flow, that long, loose, helmet-flip hair that’s become part of his brand, was gone. 

“What the f— did Julian do to his hair,” one shocked fan posted. 

This isn’t the first time Sayin has changed his look. Around this same time last year, Julian Sayin also debuted a shorter look. In February, he showed up at the Ohio State-Michigan basketball game rocking what fans jokingly called a “QB1 haircut,” which is basically a buzz cut. Some even compared it to the clean-cut look of Will Howard after he led the Buckeyes to a national title run.

This can be compared to Justin Herbert of the Chargers changing up his look after his excellent rookie year. He went from his signature long flowy hair, reminiscent of a California surfer, to a buzz cut that made the QB look more like a military man. Fans during the offseason will latch on to such stories as it is the only connection they have in the dry period before football starts again.

Meanwhile, the video posted by Smith and Sayin was part of a larger promotion for the April 18th Spring Game, with tickets now on sale and exclusive memorabilia available for fans attending. General admission is $13, while the reserved AA deck seats run $30, club seating $60, and parking is free. Kickoff is set for noon on April 18 at Ohio Stadium, and BTN will televise it. 

Club-level fans get the premium treatment with pop-up shop access, with student-athlete signed memorabilia and a signed photo from Ohio State’s win at Michigan last November. Names attached to those photos include Julian Sayin, Bo Jackson, Brandon Innis, Eddrick Houston, Ryan Day, and potentially Jeremiah Smith and others. 

For an extra dollar, fans can enter raffles for 250 exclusive items, including a signed Jeremiah Smith national championship jersey and a Julian Sayin scarlet jersey. While the game itself is the main event, the buzz surrounding the promo video centered on a surprising change from the star quarterback.

Fans can’t unsee Julian Sayin’s new look

Once Julian Sayin went public with his new look, comparisons flowed. “Julian looks like Sam Hubbard now,” one fan posted, referencing longtime Cincinnati Bengals DE. The comparison is about vibe, and fans clearly see their QBs’ similarities with the former Buckeye.

Another user zoomed in tight on Julian Sayin’s face and shared a screenshot. “Save him,” they wrote. It’s dramatic, but that’s college football.

When your hairstyle trends like this, you know people are paying attention. “Oh damn, that’s Julian,” read another reaction. That’s the kind of comment that says fans had to double-check to make sure it wasn’t a lookalike. 

Then there’s the Kyle McCord comparison. “Julian is slowly morphing into Kyle McCord,” another fan wrote. The ex-Buckeye starter who later transferred before entering the NFL remains a polarizing figure in Columbus. This is mostly because McCord did not perform at the elite level expected out of a Buckeyes starting QB, often making week-one mistakes late into the season. Fans also blame him for that 2023 loss to Michigan.

After all of this came the most straightforward question of all. “Why did he cut his hair?” someone asked. The fans appear to have been seriously taken aback by the hairstyle change in the highest-graded passer in the country. Seeing it gone feels strange. But the haircut chatter will fade the moment he starts throwing the rock again.