Ohio State is only two seasons removed from winning a national championship.
And yet 2025 somehow ended feeling unfinished.
The Buckeyes started 12-0, beat Texas, dominated most of the Big Ten and entered December ranked No. 1. Then everything changed. Ohio State lost 13-10 to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game and followed it with a 24-14 loss to Miami in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Cotton Bowl.
A team that looked capable of repeating as national champion suddenly went home 12-2.
Now Ohio State begins again.
The Buckeyes enter 2026 ranked No. 1 in both the AP and Coaches preseason polls, ahead of Oregon, Georgia, Notre Dame and Texas. They have arguably the best receiver in college football, a 1,000-yard running back, an experienced offensive line and another Matt Patricia defense stocked with elite recruits.
But this season revolves around one player more than anyone else.
Julian Sayin.
Sayin was already one of the most efficient quarterbacks in America last season.
Now the question is whether he can become the quarterback who wins Ohio State another national championship.
Sayin Was Already Remarkably Good
It is easy to forget just how impressive Sayin's first full season actually was.
He completed 301 of 391 passes for 3,610 yards, 32 touchdowns and only eight interceptions.
His 77.0 percent completion rate led the nation, and his 177.5 efficiency rating ranked second nationally. He won his first 12 games as Ohio State's starting quarterback and became a Heisman Trophy finalist.
Those are extraordinary numbers for a first-year starter.
There were stretches when Sayin looked almost automatic.
Against Wisconsin, he completed 36 of 42 passes for 393 yards and four touchdowns.
Against Penn State, he went 20 of 23 for 316 yards and four scores.
Against Minnesota, he completed 23 of 27 for 326 yards and three touchdowns.
Ohio State did not spend most of 2025 wondering whether Sayin could play quarterback at an elite level.
It spent most of the season watching him prove that he could.
But then came December.
The Last Two Games Explain the Challenge
Sayin's next step cannot really be measured by completion percentage.
It will be measured by what happens when Ohio State reaches the games where everything gets harder.
Indiana changed the equation.
The Hoosiers held Ohio State to 10 points in the Big Ten Championship Game. Sayin completed 21 of 29 passes for 258 yards and a touchdown, but Ohio State was held scoreless in the second half and Sayin was sacked five times.
Then Miami did it again.
Sayin threw for 287 yards in the Cotton Bowl, but he was intercepted twice and sacked five more times. One interception was returned 72 yards for a touchdown. Ohio State managed only 45 rushing yards in the 24-14 loss.
That does not erase everything Sayin accomplished.
It identifies what comes next.
When protection breaks down, when the running game disappears and when Ohio State faces another elite defense in a postseason environment, can Sayin become the player who takes control of the game?
That is the difference between being an excellent quarterback and becoming one of Ohio State's championship quarterbacks.
Jeremiah Smith Gives Sayin the Best Weapon in College Football
Sayin has one enormous advantage.
Jeremiah Smith is still here.
Through his first two college seasons, Smith has accumulated 2,558 receiving yards and 27 touchdown catches. Both totals are the most by any Big Ten receiver over his first two seasons. He has already produced consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
Last season alone, Smith caught 87 passes for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns.
He enters 2026 as a unanimous preseason first-team All-American and one of the most recognizable players in college football.
There is no complicated analysis required here.
If Sayin gets time and Smith is one-on-one, throw him the football.
The relationship between the two could define Ohio State's season.
Sayin already knows where Smith wants the ball. Smith already knows how Sayin sees the field.
Now both are older.
And defenses have to figure out how to stop a combination that was already extremely difficult to stop last season.
Brandon Inniss Gives Ohio State Another Veteran
The receiving corps is not simply Smith and everyone else.
Brandon Inniss returns as a senior and has been selected as one of Ohio State's seven captains.
Ohio State loses Carnell Tate, who caught 51 passes for 875 yards and nine touchdowns last season, so someone must assume a larger role opposite Smith.
Inniss is the obvious veteran candidate.
And Ohio State almost always has another young receiver waiting.
That has become one of the defining characteristics of the Ryan Day era.
The names change. The speed does not.
Bo Jackson Could Make Sayin Even Better
The most important player for Sayin's development might actually be running back Bo Jackson.
Jackson rushed for 1,090 yards on 179 carries as a true freshman, averaging 6.1 yards per carry. He became only the fifth true freshman in Ohio State history to reach 1,000 rushing yards.
Now he enters his sophomore season.
That should frighten defenses.
Jackson had six 100-yard rushing games last season despite playing in an offense built primarily around Sayin and Smith.
If he develops into a 1,300 or 1,400-yard runner, everything becomes easier for Ohio State.
Safeties cannot simply sit deep protecting against Smith. Linebackers have to respect play action. Pass rushers cannot attack Sayin on every snap.
And Ohio State becomes less vulnerable to exactly what happened against Miami, when the Buckeyes managed only 45 rushing yards.
That leads to one of the most interesting changes in Columbus.
Arthur Smith Could Change the Offense
Ohio State has a new offensive coordinator.
And it is not another traditional college spread-offense hire.
Arthur Smith comes to Columbus after 17 seasons in the NFL, including three seasons as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons and offensive coordinator stops with Tennessee and Pittsburgh.
His arrival could create a fascinating evolution.
Smith's best offenses have traditionally emphasized physical running games, multiple personnel groups and play action.
That fits this Ohio State roster unusually well.
The Buckeyes have Sayin. They have Smith. They have Jackson. And they return substantial experience on the offensive line.
Offensive coordinator Smith has already praised Sayin's football intelligence, saying this August that the quarterback understands the game so well that he does not feel like a young player.
That opens possibilities.
Ohio State does not need to turn Sayin into a quarterback who throws 50 times a game.
It needs to make defenses defend everything.
The Offensive Line May Be the Hidden Strength
Ohio State returns eight offensive starters, compared with only three on defense.
Among those returners are center Carson Hinzman, guards Luke Montgomery and Austin Siereveld, and tackle Phillip Daniels.
Montgomery and Siereveld have received significant preseason All-America recognition, while Hinzman, Montgomery and Siereveld are all on the Lombardi Award watch list.
That experience matters enormously.
Ohio State's postseason problem last season was not that Sayin suddenly forgot how to play quarterback.
Against Indiana and Miami, the offensive rhythm disappeared.
A more physical running game and experienced offensive line should reduce the likelihood of that happening again.
Arthur Smith may have been hired partly to make sure it does.
The Biggest Question Is Actually the Defense
Ironically, Sayin may not be Ohio State’s biggest concern.
The defense might be.
Matt Patricia produced an extraordinary unit in 2025.
Ohio State allowed only 9.3 points and 219.1 yards per game, leading the country in both scoring defense and total defense for the second consecutive season. No FBS defense had allowed fewer points and yards per game in the same season since Alabama in 2011.
The problem?
A huge portion of that defense is gone.
Ohio State returns only three defensive starters.
Gone are Caleb Downs, Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, Kayden McDonald, Caden Curry, Davison Igbinosun, Lorenzo Styles and Tywone Malone Jr.
That is an extraordinary amount of talent to replace.
And it creates an unusual situation.
The No. 1 team in America may have one of the most experienced elite offenses in the country paired with one of the least experienced defenses.
Matt Patricia Now Has to Do It Again
Last year was an enormous success for Patricia.
Now comes a completely different coaching challenge.
In 2025, he inherited veterans and future NFL players.
In 2026, he has to develop replacements.
Defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr., safety Jaylen McClain and cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. are the three returning starters. Jackson and McClain were named team captains.
Ohio State has also added and developed talented pieces including safety Earl Little Jr., who enters the season on the Jim Thorpe Award watch list.
Nobody should expect the Buckeyes to suddenly become bad defensively.
Ohio State recruits too well for that.
But expecting another defense to allow nine points per game may be unreasonable.
That puts additional responsibility on Sayin.
Last season, the defense frequently gave Ohio State enormous margin for error.
This year, the quarterback may have to win a few games that reach the fourth quarter at 31-28.
Texas Comes Almost Immediately
Ohio State opens September 5 against Ball State.
Then the season begins for real.
September 12: Ohio State at No. 5 Texas.
The Buckeyes beat Texas 14-7 in Columbus last season. This time Sayin and Ohio State travel to Austin for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
That game will tell us a great deal about Sayin.
Arch Manning is now an experienced starter. Texas will have revenge on its mind. DKR Memorial Stadium should be one of the loudest environments Ohio State sees all season.
And unlike last year's game, Sayin will not have the excuse of being a first-year starter.
This is precisely the type of setting in which a national championship quarterback has to perform.
Win in Austin and Ohio State's No. 1 ranking becomes considerably easier to defend.
Lose and the Buckeyes still have a playoff path, but their margin for error disappears almost immediately.
And That Is Only the Beginning
Ohio State's schedule is brutal.
After Texas, the Buckeyes get Kent State and Illinois before traveling to Iowa.
Then comes Maryland.
Then: at No. 6 Indiana, a bye, at No. 14 USC, No. 2 Oregon, Northwestern, at Nebraska and No. 16 Michigan.
That is six preseason Top 25 opponents.
Five are preseason Top 16 teams.
Three of those major games are on the road.
Ohio State also could have to play a 13th game in the Big Ten Championship if it survives the regular season near the top of the standings.
There will be no hiding.
Indiana Is About Revenge
October 17 should already be circled.
Ohio State travels to Bloomington to face the team that ended its unbeaten season last December.
Indiana beat the Buckeyes 13-10 in the Big Ten Championship Game, holding Ohio State scoreless after halftime.
The Hoosiers enter 2026 ranked No. 6 after winning the national championship.
Sayin will not see the same Indiana roster he faced last December.
But the psychological significance remains.
Ohio State had spent most of 2025 looking unbeatable.
Indiana demonstrated that it wasn't.
Going into Bloomington and winning would close that chapter.
Then Comes USC and Oregon Back-to-Back
This may be the defining stretch of the season.
After a bye, Ohio State travels to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to face USC on October 31.
One week later, No. 2 Oregon comes to Ohio Stadium.
There may not be a tougher two-game combination anywhere on the schedule.
USC has Jayden Maiava, Lincoln Riley and Gary Patterson.
Oregon begins the season immediately behind Ohio State at No. 2.
Sayin could play extremely well in both games and Ohio State could still split them.
That is what makes the Buckeyes' preseason No. 1 ranking interesting.
They may be the best team in the country.
They also have to prove it repeatedly.
Michigan Comes Back to Columbus
Then there is the game that requires no explanation.
Michigan.
Ohio State finally ended its four-game losing streak against the Wolverines last November with a 27-9 victory in Ann Arbor.
This year the rivalry returns to Ohio Stadium.
Michigan begins the season ranked No. 16.
For Ryan Day, last year's win removed an enormous burden.
For Sayin, it was his first victory as Ohio State's starting quarterback in The Game.
Now the challenge is turning one win into another.
At Ohio State, beating Michigan once does not end the conversation.
You have to keep beating Michigan.
Sayin Has a Heisman Opportunity
The schedule is difficult.
It also gives Sayin almost everything a Heisman candidate could want.
Think about the stages: Texas in Austin. Indiana in Bloomington. USC at the Coliseum. Oregon in Columbus. Michigan in The Game.
Those are national television opportunities against recognizable opponents.
A quarterback does not win the Heisman simply by completing 77 percent of his passes against overmatched teams.
He wins it by producing moments people remember.
Sayin will have plenty of opportunities.
And he will have Jeremiah Smith standing outside.
That helps.
But Sayin's Legacy Will Be Defined in January
This is ultimately what makes Ohio State different from almost every other program.
A 10-win season is not enough. A New Year’s bowl is not enough. Making the playoff is not enough.
Ohio State won the national championship after the 2024 season.
Then it went 12-2 in 2025 and the season was still considered disappointing because the Buckeyes lost their final two games.
That is the standard.
Sayin could throw for 4,000 yards. He could become a Heisman finalist again. Smith could win the Biletnikoff. Jackson could rush for 1,300 yards.
None of it will completely define this season.
The defining question will be whether Ohio State is still playing when the national championship is decided in Las Vegas on January 25.
Can Sayin Return Ohio State to Glory?
Yes.
In fact, there is a compelling argument that Sayin is positioned to become one of the best quarterbacks in college football in 2026.
He already led the nation in completion percentage. He already threw 32 touchdowns. He already won his first 12 starts. He already beat Texas. He already beat Michigan.
And now he gets another offseason, another year with Jeremiah Smith, an experienced offensive line, a 1,000-yard running back and an NFL offensive coordinator designing the attack around him.
The issue is not whether Sayin can be excellent.
We already know that.
The issue is whether he can be excellent when Ohio State absolutely has to have it.
Indiana and Miami exposed the one unanswered question from his first season.
What happens when the defense is elite, the pocket collapses, the running game disappears and Ohio State needs its quarterback to rescue the season?
The great Ohio State quarterbacks are remembered for what they did in those moments.
Sayin gets his opportunity now.
TD Strike Prediction
Ohio State deserves to begin the season No. 1.
The offense might be better than last year's version.
Sayin should improve. Jeremiah Smith might be the best offensive player in America. Bo Jackson could become one of the Big Ten’s best running backs. The offensive line is experienced. Arthur Smith adds a fascinating new dimension to the offense.
The concern is the defense, where Patricia must replace eight starters from a historically dominant unit.
And then there is the schedule.
Texas. Indiana. USC. Oregon. Michigan.
It is difficult to imagine Ohio State navigating all of that without at least one loss.
Prediction: Ohio State finishes 11-1, reaches the Big Ten Championship Game and earns a College Football Playoff berth as one of the leading national championship contenders.
The difference between another very good Ohio State season and another championship may ultimately come down to Julian Sayin.
Last year, he proved he could operate Ohio State's offense.
This year, he has to prove he can carry it when everything around him stops working.
If he can, Ohio State has everything it needs to get back to the top.
Can Sayin return Ohio State to glory?
By January, we may be talking about something even bigger.
We may be talking about Julian Sayin as Ohio State's next national championship quarterback.