Having led Ohio State to three CFPs, two Finals, and one championship, HC Ryan Day has proven that he’s on his way to build a bigger powerhouse out of the Buckeyes. To top that off is the fact that the Buckeyes have not dropped out of the top 10 in AP rankings and top 7 in the CFP rankings under Day. But he has also proven that he is not just a head coach but also a QB’s best friend, complete with a stacked QB room last year. One of them was his senior QB transfer in 2024 out of Kansas City, Will Howard, who, with a strong friendship with Day, led the team to the championship title last year. But as he moves to Pittsburgh to begin his professional journey, Day’s QB room is back in a scramble. So who would it be to fill the shoes of close to elite Will? Julian Sayin, Lincoln Kienholz, or the true freshman Tavien St. Clair?

Over the spring practices, Tavien has kind of solidified his role as a backup for now. He wasn’t bad, he just wasn’t good, completing 12 of 18 passes for 158 yards and two scores so the HC concluded, “Tavien’s got a lot of upsides but is just a little bit behind, only having 15 practices.” The other two, however, have been in a competition of their own that even Day had to settle with a, “I feel like Lincoln was ahead of Julian going into the spring game, and I thought Julian had a better spring game than Lincoln. So, it’s back and forth.” But for now, he’s not naming names. He has until August 30 to do that when they host Texas. Still, that doesn’t mean we don’t have hints.

When Julian transferred from Alabama after Nick Saban’s exit, he had one aim– be the QB1 in 2025. After learning from Howard in the season that they brought in a Natty, Sayin has shifted the alum he’s trying to fill the spot for to his side. When talking in Indy during the NFL Combine, Will plainly stated, “Now it’s his time.” Even former Buckeyes cornerback Denzel Burke opined, “Julian’s that guy, to be honest with you.” His spring practices certainly aligned with the common notion so far. So, with all that said, where does Julian stand exactly in leading the favorites for back-to-back National champions? One Buckeyes insider has some takes on the Bama product.

“Is Julian Sayin good enough to lead Ohio State back to the national championship?” On May 6, CBS Sports College Football posted an Instagram video of Dave Biddle dropping his verdict for the question on Julian Sayin via Cover 3 Podcast. “He’s got a very quick release. He’s got a special quick release. He’s very accurate with the ball,” he said, pointing out his upsides. “He doesn’t have a cannon but he has a strong enough arm. I think he’s probably got a stronger arm than Will Howard. And Will Howard, you know, showed late in the season he could throw the deep ball. Leadership wise, being a young guy, how’s he going to take control of this team and be the leader of this team that Will Howard was. So, it’s interesting. I think he’s gonna do well at Ohio State. My question, bud, is… when?

“Like, when is Julian Sayin going to be good? Is he going to be good right away against Texas? I think that’s a lot to ask. First game as a starter, you’re playing the Longhorns, who are gonna come here for blood, obviously. I think it’s gonna be some time in the middle of the season, end of the season, is it going to be next season before he becomes a good quarterback… I don’t know. I’m convinced he’s going to be a good starting quarterback at Ohio State. My question is how early?”

Let’s not overlook that season opener against Steve Sarkisian’s team. With Arch Manning’s official era beginning, the Longhorns will be seeking the first blood. So, it’s not exactly a soft landing. And he wasn’t exactly flawless this spring. He missed a surefire TD to WR Mylan Graham in the spring game. Still, he was able to bounce back by completing 17 of 24 passes for 175 yards and a TD. Meanwhile, his competitor for the spot, Kienholz, wasn’t far behind. The sophomore completed 12 of 18 passes for 158 yards and two scores. But the verdict still seems to be siding with the Bama transfer.

The Buckeyes are the current favorites to get the National Championship again in 2025, but they no longer have a veteran signal caller in the QB room. So, now, they will turn to an unproven yet talented player under center who is loaded with traits and pedigree. But the experience? He appeared in three regular season games and a playoff first round matchup against Tennessee. All were wins, but his average in the season was 1 TD with 5 completions in 12 attempts for 84 yards. He even carried twice for 24 yards.

But he has the weight of leading a team that’s continuing with a momentum and has not seen an inexperienced primary QB in the recent years. So, the pressure is there. Julian is the future and everybody knows it. However, is he the present? Well, Ryan Day’s not sleeping on the situation.

Ryan Day targets a running weapon for Julian Sayin

While Julian Sayin’s future and development are in the headlines, there’s a local 2026 running weapon to keep an eye on — Favour Akih. This star could be the safety valve the Buckeyes’ QB1 needs. Out of Hayes HS, Delaware (OH), Akih’s been on campus multiple times this spring. Coach Day is pushing hard, and right now, the Buckeyes lead the race with a 91.3% prediction on On3.

Favour Akih has that blend of size, vision, and power that makes it easier for a quarterback. A true tone-setter out of the backfield. Perhaps, the next Buckeyes’ TreVeyon Henderson? With other schools like Miami and USC in the mix, his recruitment isn’t a cakewalk, but the hometown pull is real. But we’ll only know for real when he announces his commitment by the end of May or early June.

If OSU lands him, that’s a big-time weapon for Julian Sayin or whoever wins the job to lean on.