Spring practices are set to kick off in Columbus soon. Last year, the Ohio State offense was fine, but it wasn’t quite to the level to which the Buckeyes have grown accustomed. Under Ryan Day, the Ohio State offense has been one of the best in the country. However, last year, under first-year offensive coordinator Brian Hartline, it looked a little different. More specifically, it was slow, methodical.
There were plenty of reasons why Ohio State slowed it down. One of those reasons could have been focusing on slowing the game down for a redshirt freshman quarterback. Moving into 2026, the Buckeye quarterback room is set and more experienced than it was heading into 2025. While there isn’t a battle as there was (allegedly) 12 months ago, each member of the unit has work to do to make sure the offense is ready to take a step under a new offensive coordinator.
Spring Buckeye Breakdown: Sayin, St. Clair, and Something to Improve
Super Sayin Ascended
The “Super Sayin” nickname for Julian Sayin is going to follow him until his final snap. If last year was his Super Sayin season, it’s time for him to ascend just as Gohan did against Cell.
Sayin was great in 2025, passing for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns while leading the nation with a 77% completion percentage. He was as efficient as any. Sayin threw for at least one touchdown in every game, multiple touchdowns in nine, and finished with more touchdowns than completions twice. His pinpoint accuracy propelled him to finish fourth in Heisman Trophy voting.
Heading into 2026, Sayin will have a greater grasp of the playbook, a dangerous thought for opposing defenses. However, if there is one aspect that Sayin can continue to improve, it’s his composure under pressure.
Statistically, he was great against pressure, just as he was regardless of the situation. According to Pro Football Focus, Sayin completed 76.1% for 1,187 yards and 18 touchdowns with three interceptions against the blitz. Under pressure, those numbers were 60.2% for 727 yards, and seven touchdowns with three interceptions.
However, getting pressured against Grambling State looked very different than when Indiana and Miami did it. He missed open receivers and looked like a freshman in that Cotton Bowl loss.
Regardless, if there will be an area of Sayin’s game to critique, it would be that. Of course, if Ohio State had a better run game to keep the defense honest, it may have been a different story.
One Snap Away
Behind Sayin, there is even less experience than there was a year ago. At least heading into last season, Lincoln Kienholz had playing time. We can expect that Tavien St. Clair, the redshirt freshman from Bellefontaine, Ohio, is the next man up. For reference, St. Clair played just 13 snaps in 2025, all of which came in mop-up duty against Grambling State. He attempted two passes, both of which fell incomplete.
He’s now the guy who is one snap away from being The Guy.
St. Clair was the first five-star recruit to sign with the Buckeyes (without transferring) since Braxton Miller. The six-foot-four, 225-pound quarterback with well over 10,000 yards to his name in high school was always going to be a high-ceiling project for the Buckeyes because of the competition level he faced. He has a strong arm and the athleticism that a certain sect of the fanbase yearns for.
Could there be St. Clair-specific packages as there were with Kienholz? It could be something to keep in mind as the Buckeyes get going. As for this spring, it’s going to be all about making sure St. Clair is as prepared as possible should the unthinkable happen.
A New Battle?
Sayin is the established QB1. There is very little disputing that fact within the coaching staff. At the same time, recency bias is quite the drug. The last time we saw Sayin, he was running for his life against the defensive fronts of Indiana and Miami. He totaled 535 yards and two touchdowns, but threw three interceptions in those two losses.
Sayin is not Will Howard. He’s a much better natural thrower of the football, but he doesn’t have the size or “I’m going to run you over” mentality. There is a critique of Sayin that he needs to just take the “free yardage” by taking off when the pocket breaks down. St. Clair has the wiggle to do so, but Sayin has not shown that he does.
These two quarterbacks are about as different as can be, but Sayin is still the guy. St. Clair may have to step up at some point, but if all things are the same, the job is Sayin’s, no matter how much the Lunatic Fringe™ keeps saying he “doesn’t have it,” or that he’s not an NFL quarterback.
The mentality of St. Clair this Spring will be make sure he is prepared to step up if he gets the call. Obviously, as a competitor, he will try to jockey for the starting job, but barring a nuclear collapse from Sayin, St. Clair is QB2.
Main Image: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
