Ohio State football coach Ryan Day described quarterback Julian Sayin as a noticeably changed player ahead of the 2026 season, citing both physical and mental growth. Speaking at Big Ten Media Days on July 29, Day emphasized that Sayin comes into this year’s campaign with a new intensity and competitiveness.

Sayin, who transferred from Alabama, led the Buckeyes to a 12-2 record last season and the program’s second consecutive College Football Playoff appearance. The team finished the year on a two-game losing streak following defeats in the Big Ten championship to Indiana—the eventual national champion—and the Cotton Bowl against Miami. Despite those setbacks, Day highlighted Sayin’s early achievements, including a victory over Texas in a top-five season-opening matchup and a key win against Michigan in difficult snowy conditions.

Day credited Sayin’s offseason work with significant improvements physically, mentioning that the quarterback appears stronger and more poised. “You see a different body,” Day said. “He’s worked hard, he’s gotten stronger, he’s found his voice even more.” In a separate interview, Day noted Sayin’s increased physical presence, pointing out the quarterback’s more pronounced lower body strength and a thicker neck, which may indicate enhanced durability and power in the pocket.

Last season, Sayin completed 301 of 391 passes for 3,610 yards, 32 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. His performance earned him fourth place in the Heisman Trophy race, trailing winner Fernando Mendoza by nearly 2,000 points. Sayin was also a preseason first-team All-Big Ten selection by USA TODAY Network.

Heading into the 2026 season, Sayin is expected to face a challenging schedule that includes a Week 2 road game at Texas and conference matchups with Indiana, Oregon, and Michigan—the latter two hosted at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State will open its season hosting Ball State on Sept. 5 at noon ET.

Ryan Day highlighted Sayin’s intellectual abilities, calling them among the quarterback’s top attributes. “He can handle high levels of information. He can process things,” Day said, noting that further development will focus on pocket presence and executing under pressure. Sayin also enters the season with notable Heisman buzz, tied with Miami quarterback Darian Mensah for the fourth-best odds on BetMGM at +1100.

With these developments, Ohio State is optimistic about Sayin’s potential to lead the team to continued success and to elevate his own game in the coming season.