Julian Sayin helped Ohio State football end a drought vs. Michigan. Can he end 2 more next week?
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin walked into Michigan Stadium’s visiting press conference room on Saturday and sat beside Ryan Day.
As the seventh-year coach leaned back during a question, he reached his arm out to the right and put it around the redshirt-freshman quarterback who just ended the Buckeyes’ four-game skid against the Wolverines.
That same quarterback might help Ohio State end two more droughts across the next two weeks.
Top-ranked Ohio State will face No. 2 Indiana next week in the Big Ten Championship Game. The contest, which will take place inside Lucas Oil Stadium, will give OSU its first chance at a conference title since 2020.
It’ll also feature a matchup between Sayin and IU quarterback Fernando Mendoza — the betting favorites to win the Heisman Trophy.
With a win, Sayin might propel himself atop the race for the sport’s most prestigious trophy — an award Ohio State hasn’t claimed since Troy Smith in 2006.
“Well, duh,” defensive end Caden Curry said when asked if Sayin should be the Heisman favorite. “He’s just such a great player, such a smart player. He knows how to win.”
Sayin threw for 233 yards, three touchdowns and an interception against Michigan, improving his season totals to 3,065 yards, 30 touchdowns and five interceptions.
While the stats help Sayin’s case, Saturday’s win gave him an opportunity to add a Heisman moment to his resume. His interception was a costly one early in the game, but he responded in impressive fashion — similar to what Mendoza did in wins against Oregon, Iowa and Penn State.
Sayin left The Game with +150 odds to win the Heisman, according to DraftKings.
Mendoza led Indiana to its first undefeated regular season in program history. He’ll enter the Big Ten Championship Game with 2,758 yards, 32 touchdowns and five interceptions.
His odds moved to +110 after Ohio State beat Michigan.
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