Julian Sayin Could Put the College Football World on Notice Against Maryland

Ohio State’s toughest three-game stretch of the season is right around the corner — Indiana, USC, and Oregon await in consecutive weeks. But before any of that, Julian Sayin has a chance to make a real statement against Maryland on Saturday. How he looks heading into that brutal stretch could say a lot about where his game — and his Heisman Trophy case — actually stands.

Julian Sayin’s Quietly Elite 2026 Season

Sayin has carried his strong 2025 campaign directly into this season. Through five games, he’s completed 72.5% of his passes for 1,530 yards, 13 touchdowns, and just a single interception. His advanced numbers are arguably even more impressive: he ranks third nationally in PFF passing grade (91.9), second in yards per attempt (10.8), and fifth in NFL-style passer rating (135). In Ohio State’s win at Iowa, he was virtually flawless, going 20-of-27 for 324 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover.

And yet, somehow, Sayin entered Week 6 tied for just ninth in Heisman Trophy odds — a ranking that looks genuinely difficult to square with the level he’s actually playing at.

Why Sayin Isn’t Getting the Heisman Credit He Deserves

Part of the explanation is simple: Sayin plays with the best player in college football. Jeremiah Smith has become so dominant — he’s now Ohio State’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns, and the betting favorite to win the Heisman himself — that it’s become genuinely difficult to separate how much of Sayin’s success is his own growth versus simply distributing the ball to Smith. That dynamic has, fairly or not, pushed Sayin’s individual recognition down the national radar even as his per-game production has stayed remarkably consistent.

But there’s a case that Sayin deserves more credit, not less, for his role in that partnership. Two of his three touchdown passes against Iowa went to Smith, including a 57-yard strike that made Smith the program’s all-time touchdown catch leader — exactly the kind of read-and-deliver execution that doesn’t always show up as flashy, but reflects real quarterback discipline. Sayin’s game isn’t built on highlight-reel scrambles or jaw-dropping arm talent; it’s built on accuracy and decision-making, which can make it easy for the national conversation to overlook just how good he’s actually been.

Why Julian Sayin Can’t Afford to Become One-Dimensional

That’s exactly where this week’s game against Maryland becomes meaningful. While Jeremiah Smith continues chasing records and leading the Heisman race, Sayin can’t afford to get one-dimensional in the passing game and simply look for Smith on every snap. Spreading the ball around — to receivers like Devin McCuin, who’s reportedly been pushing for more involvement, and others in Ohio State’s deep receiving corps — would go a long way toward proving Sayin’s game has real range beyond just finding the best player on the field.

Maryland’s Defense Presents the Right Kind of Opportunity

The matchup sets up well for exactly that kind of statement. Maryland’s defense has allowed 151 points already this season and ranks 116th nationally in scoring defense, surrendering 30.2 points per game. The Terrapins have also given up a combined 102 points in their last two games against UCLA and Nebraska. If Sayin’s accuracy stays sharp against a defense that’s been that porous, it would be an encouraging sign heading into the much tougher three-game stretch that follows. Ohio State opened as 34.5-point favorites, and Maryland is unlikely to challenge the Buckeyes for a win — but the Terrapins may still test some specific pain points on both sides of the ball, which is exactly the kind of low-risk environment for Sayin to show real growth.

What a Strong Performance Would Mean for Sayin’s Heisman Case

This game against Maryland, more than anything, will say a lot about how confident Sayin is in his own abilities heading into the gauntlet ahead. The true test of his season is still coming — Indiana, USC, and Oregon will tell the real story of where Ohio State and Sayin individually stand. But first, he has to show Buckeye fans, and the rest of the country, that he’s playing his best football right now. A clean, efficient, and more distributed performance against Maryland would be exactly the kind of signal that could start closing the gap between Sayin’s actual production and his lagging national recognition.

What’s Next for Ohio State

Ohio State hosts Maryland Saturday, October 10, at 4:15 p.m. ET, in what’s expected to be the Buckeyes’ final unranked matchup before three consecutive Top-25 battles. Ohio State leads the all-time series against Maryland 9-0, including lopsided wins in four of the last five meetings. For Sayin, the final score likely won’t be in question — but how he plays, and how willing he is to spread the ball around, could end up mattering just as much heading into the toughest stretch of Ohio State’s season.