COLUMBUS, Ohio — As freshman quarterback Julian Sayin prepares for his first career start for No. 3 Ohio State against top-ranked Texas, coach Ryan Day has a straightforward message for him: “Just win.”
The showdown at Ohio Stadium on Saturday will feature a marquee matchup between two new starting quarterbacks, with Sayin facing off against Texas’s Arch Manning. The game is a rematch of last season’s College Football Playoff semifinal, where both players watched from the sideline as Ohio State, then led by Will Howard, eliminated Quinn Ewers and the Longhorns on its way to a national championship.
Both Sayin and Manning were five-star recruits out of high school. Manning gained some experience last season, starting two games in place of an injured Ewers, while Sayin’s action was limited to just 12 pass attempts in relief duty.
Day emphasized that the Buckeyes are not placing “crazy expectations” on Sayin, who beat out Lincoln Kienholz for the starting position during the preseason.
“Take care of the ball. … If you need to throw it away, throw it away,” Day said of his guidance for Sayin. “Don’t worry about anything else other than winning the game. That’s the most important thing—that’s the job of the quarterback.”
The challenge for Ohio State is heightened by a rebuilt defense that will debut eight new starters. Day acknowledged that this revamped unit faces a “tremendous” test against Manning, whom he praised as a complete player.
“Athletic; a big, strong arm; smart; quick release; accurate—all of the above,” Day said of Manning. “I mean, he checks every box.”
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