It’s a loaded day for Ohio State football news. Julian Sayin is ranked as college football’s No. 5 quarterback, David Gabriel Georges makes his decision tonight, and 19 Buckeyes make the East-West Bowl 1000. Between a national quarterback ranking that’s already sparking debate, a five-star recruiting decision hanging in the balance, and a wave of Ohio State talent getting recognized on the all-star circuit, there’s a lot to unpack heading into the back half of July.
Julian Sayin Lands in Tier 1 — But at No. 5
The Athletic’s Antonio Morales and Sam Khan Jr. surveyed roughly three dozen coaches, general managers, personnel directors, scouts, and front office staffers from around college football to rank every projected starting quarterback in the FBS from No. 1 to No. 138. Ohio State’s Julian Sayin was one of just eight quarterbacks who made it into Tier 1, the survey’s top classification, reserved for players considered a strong combination of proven production and elite traits — the kind of quarterbacks coaches want to build a program around.
Even with that distinction, Sayin still landed at No. 5 overall, behind Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss, Oregon’s Dante Moore, Notre Dame’s CJ Carr, and Miami’s Darian Mensah. That ranking comes despite Sayin being the only returning Heisman Trophy finalist from last season and the reigning national leader in completion percentage, after setting a Big Ten record and the third-highest single-season completion rate in FBS history at 77.0 percent in 2025.
According to Khan and Morales, deciding where to slot Sayin was one of the most polarizing debates among everyone they surveyed, with responses ranging widely on whether he’s a true elite quarterback or a product of Ohio State’s system and the talent around him. One Big Ten general manager was blunt, calling him a game manager who couldn’t win a title on his own. An ACC front office staffer pushed back hard in the other direction, arguing Sayin belongs in the top two or three and that anyone ranking him lower is wrong.
The Case for Sayin Being Underrated
Setting aside where he technically ranked, the underlying numbers make a strong case for the ACC staffer’s side of the argument. Outside of Miami’s Fernando Mendoza, no quarterback in college football was more efficient than Sayin last season, and he did it as a first-year starter who had thrown just a handful of career passes before taking over the job in 2025. He’s not the same caliber of dual-threat athlete as Chambliss or Moore, but no starting quarterback in the country was more consistently accurate than Sayin through the 2025 regular season.
That efficiency shows up throughout his season-long numbers: 3,610 passing yards, the fifth-most in a single season in Ohio State history, and a quarterback rating of 177.46, the second-highest mark nationally behind only Mendoza. He also became the first Ohio State quarterback to throw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions on 85-plus percent completion in a single game — and he did it twice, against Minnesota and Wisconsin, within the same season. Sayin was also named the Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Year and a finalist for both the Maxwell Trophy and the Davey O’Brien Award. The “game manager” label tends to undersell just how productive and precise he was across an entire Big Ten schedule.
Whatever motivation Sayin needed heading into 2026, this ranking should provide plenty of it. With another full offseason as Ohio State’s starter and an offense once again built around elite skill talent, Sayin has every opportunity to answer his critics with results.
David Gabriel Georges Makes His Decision Tonight
While Sayin’s ranking dominates the quarterback conversation, all eyes in Columbus are also on five-star running back David Gabriel Georges, who is set to announce his college decision tonight. Ohio State has been as aggressive as it’s been in any recruitment in recent memory, with the coaching staff — led by running backs coach Carlos Locklyn — going all-in to try to land Gabriel Georges over Tennessee.
Locklyn’s relationship with Gabriel Georges dates back years, and he’s made no secret of how badly he wants the five-star back in his running back room. Ohio State doesn’t have an obvious Plan B at the position if tonight’s decision doesn’t go the Buckeyes’ way, which only raises the stakes on an announcement that’s expected to close out one of the most closely watched recruitments of the 2027 cycle.
19 Buckeyes Named to the East-West Bowl 1000
Ohio State’s depth of talent was also on display Tuesday when 19 Buckeyes were named to the East-West Bowl 1000, a list recognizing top prospects for the postseason all-star game. Landing that many players on the list reflects the overall strength of Ohio State’s roster heading into 2026, spanning both proven veterans and up-and-coming players who’ve earned attention from evaluators around the country.
That kind of across-the-board recognition reinforces a larger point about where Ohio State’s program currently stands: even with plenty of debate swirling around individual rankings like Sayin’s, the overall talent level in Columbus remains among the deepest in the country.
What It All Means Heading Into the Season
Between a polarizing national quarterback ranking, a high-stakes recruiting decision, and nearly two dozen players earning postseason recognition, Wednesday captured a lot of what defines Ohio State football right now — a program with legitimate star power, some outside skepticism to answer, and a roster deep enough to remain in the national championship conversation regardless of how any single ranking or recruiting battle shakes out.
Sayin will have the chance to respond to his doubters on the field starting in the fall. Gabriel Georges’ decision tonight will shape how Ohio State’s backfield looks in future seasons. And the East-West Bowl 1000 recognition is one more data point in what’s shaping up to be a loaded roster for the Buckeyes as they chase another deep playoff run.
Final Thoughts
Whether or not Julian Sayin’s No. 5 ranking sits right with Ohio State fans, the numbers behind it tell the story of one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the country heading into a pivotal second season as a starter. Add in tonight’s Gabriel Georges decision and a wave of Buckeyes earning East-West Bowl recognition, and it’s clear Ohio State’s roster — and its national perception — will keep evolving fast as the 2026 season approaches.
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