Ohio State announced this week that coach Ryan Day is actively campaigning for quarterback Julian Sayin to win the Heisman Trophy ahead of Saturday’s Big Ten Championship game against undefeated Indiana.
The Buckeyes enter the title game 13-0 and need one victory to secure an unbeaten regular season and College Football Playoff berth.
Day highlighted Sayin’s record-setting accuracy during media appearances this week.
“I think he has the highest completion percentage ever for a college football player or something,” Day said on “Bussin’ With The Boys.” “Someone told me that. His accuracy is off the charts. We have great receivers, but that’s not his fault. He doesn’t miss those throws by much, you know? Carnell [Tate] did a great job on routes with separation, and Jeremiah [Smith] did the same.”
Sayin has thrown for 30 touchdowns this season with a QBR of 90.4, per ESPN.
Day said he’s been impressed with Sayin’s leadership despite entering the season without starting experience.
“He’s got composure, and he has a toughness about him,” Day said. “I think he really hadn’t really played a game in the elements. He had been practicing in it, but for him to handle that with the snow going sideways and just the way he played… scrambling for a first down and getting big third downs… he was excellent. I just think he’s got some special gifts about him.”
Day pointed to last Saturday’s 27-9 victory over Michigan as evidence of Sayin’s continued development.
The coach praised his quarterback’s ability to process information quickly and bounce back from mistakes.
“But those balls are on the money,” Day said. “He is just really, really accurate. And I think he has a special gift, in terms of his intelligence. Being around him everyday, he’s intelligent. He can handle high levels of information fast. I thought in ‘The Game’, they did a great job with disguise there and they got him on that one. But there was no panic, because I know exactly what he saw and went right back at it.”
Ohio State hasn’t won a conference championship in five years.
Saturday’s matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium marks the first Big Ten title game featuring two undefeated teams ranked in the top spots nationally.
A strong performance from Sayin could end the Buckeyes’ championship drought and validate their status as one of college football’s elite programs this season.
The Hoosiers defense has improved weekly and will test Sayin’s accuracy and composure in his biggest game to date.
