Would Ohio State still have beaten Texas with this surprising quarterback instead of Julian Sayin?
COLUMBUS, Ohio — In an intriguing segment from the latest Buckeye Talk podcast, hosts debated a fascinating hypothetical: Has there been any point this season where Ohio State would have been better off with Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer than freshman phenom Julian Sayin?
The question might seem blasphemous to Buckeye fans, but it sparked a thoughtful discussion about the tradeoffs between veteran experience and raw talent, particularly in high-pressure road environments.
Stephen Means framed the debate perfectly: “Is there a game at any point during this year as we’ve watched Julian develop where you would have said based on where Julian Sayin was in that moment, I’d rather have Luke Altmyer than Julian Sayin for just that game and that week and what they were that game and that week.”
The question isn’t as outlandish as it might initially sound. Luke Altmyer has quietly put together an impressive season at Illinois, completing 73.6% of his passes for 1,573 yards with 12 touchdowns and zero interceptions. His QBR ranks sixth nationally, and he hasn’t thrown an interception at home since a four-pick game two years ago.
Andrew Gillis identified the early-season showdown with Texas as the one moment when Altmyer’s experience might have been valuable: “The only my answer is no, but the only answer I think is Texas. Like if you want to say like, ‘Hey, we’re just going to hand the ball off a lot. Go out there, fly the plane, put it on cruise control, and just sit there in case anything starts bleeping red, and then we’ll figure it out.’”
Stefan Krajisnik, however, pointed to a different game: “The reason I think it’s the Washington game is cuz I think Ohio State was kind of ready to open up its offense, but the the the hesitation was first time, first start on the road for Julian Sayin. I think if they had a veteran quarterback at Washington, I think they would have unleashed it a bit more than they did.”
The most fascinating aspect of the debate wasn’t just which game might have benefited from Altmyer’s experience, but how the hosts unanimously concluded they’d still take Sayin in every situation. The discussion highlighted how rapidly Sayin has developed and the immense ceiling he’s already demonstrating.
The comparison between these quarterbacks is particularly relevant as Ohio State prepares to face Illinois. While Julian Sayin has completed an astounding 80.2% of his passes with 13 touchdowns, Altmyer has been impressively efficient in the intermediate passing game, going 28-of-40 for 554 yards and five touchdowns on passes between 10-19 yards.
This hypothetical quarterback swap conversation reveals why Ohio State has been so successful with Sayin despite his youth: the coaching staff has masterfully managed his development while gradually removing the training wheels. Now, heading into the second half of the season, those restrictions appear to be coming off entirely.
For the full breakdown of this compelling quarterback comparison and complete analysis of Saturday’s matchup between Ohio State and Illinois, tune into the latest episode of Buckeye Talk.
Here’s the podcast for this week:
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