Ohio State officially named Julian Sayin the starting quarterback for the 2025 opener vs. No. 1 Texas. Here’s what Sayin brings, how the matchup shapes the early College Football Playoff race, kickoff details, and why this game could define Ohio State’s season.
Setting the stage
Ohio State has its quarterback: Julian Sayin. The former five-star recruit, who transferred from Alabama in early 2024, won a closely watched battle in Columbus and will start the 2025 opener against top-ranked Texas. Multiple outlets reported the decision on August 18, 2025, including ESPN, CBS Sports, FOX Sports, and 247Sports. The timing is massive. Week 1 pits No. 3 Ohio State against No. 1 Texas in the Horseshoe on Saturday, August 30, 2025, with noon ET kickoff on FOX—a Big Noon showcase the programs and networks have been circling for months.
Quick facts fans need to know
- Game: Texas at Ohio State, Week 1 (2025 season)
- Kickoff/TV: 12:00 p.m. ET on FOX, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025
- Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH
- Series & recent meeting: These powers met in last season’s CFP semifinal, won by Ohio State; the all-time series is even at 2–2 heading into 2025.
- Ticket/score hub: ESPN’s live game page lists tickets and in-game updates.
Why Julian Sayin now?
Ryan Day needed a decisive leader to steer a roster loaded with playoff aspirations. Reports indicate Sayin edged Lincoln Kienholz after a competitive camp—mirroring depth-chart projections from earlier in August that already trended toward Sayin QB1.
The choice signals Ohio State’s commitment to:
- Arm talent + timing: Sayin’s recruiting profile centered on compact release, anticipatory throws and accuracy to all levels—traits that pair with Day’s route-timing concepts and RPO tags.
- Poise vs. pressure: Texas brings a deep, SEC-hardened front. Starting a rhythm passer who processes quickly can mitigate early-season protection miscues.
- Long runway: Naming QB1 before game week gives Sayin first-team continuity through install for Texas, then Grambling State and Ohio—before a tricky late-September trip to Washington.
Ohio State’s offensive outlook with Sayin
Personnel fit:
- WR room: Even with roster churn, OSU reloads annually. Expect the plan to feature early defined reads, mesh/drive concepts and shot plays off play-action to leverage Sayin’s timing.
- TE/RB usage: Day historically blends tight end seams and running back check-throughs to give his QB outlets against simulated pressures—something Texas loves to show.
- Tempo & packaging: Against a disciplined Texas defense, early downs will likely feature RPOs and perimeter screens to settle Sayin in, setting up vertical attacks once safeties squeeze.
Protection keys:
Texas’ pass rush and disguised creepers under Steve Sarkisian’s staff present a first-start gauntlet. The Buckeyes’ ability to ID and pass off twists in obvious passing downs will determine whether Sayin can get to second-window throws.
Texas vs Ohio State: why this opener is colossal
- Playoff leverage in Week 1: A win over the preseason No. 1 (Texas) or No. 3 (Ohio State) is a premium selection-committee data point under the 12-team CFP. National writers call this the game that can tilt a title path in September.
- Rematch energy: Texas and Ohio State split high-stakes moments across decades, including the Buckeyes’ CFP semifinal triumph last season and Texas’ Fiesta Bowl win in 2009. Expect a playoff-level crowd and TV audience.
- Broadcast theater: Ohio State reportedly pushed to move this game to primetime on Sunday, Aug. 31, but Texas nixed the change—locking Big Noon. That backstory adds spice for fans making travel plans.
Julian Sayin is officially Ohio State’s starting quarterback. https://t.co/upvb08lRIi pic.twitter.com/RFl9pbdoS1
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) August 18, 2025
Kickoff details, tickets & how to watch
- Kick: Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025 — 12:00 p.m. ET
- TV: FOX (Big Noon Kickoff on site)
- Venue: Ohio Stadium (The Horseshoe), Columbus
- Schedules: Official Ohio State athletics page and FBSchedules list Texas as the opener, followed by Grambling State (Sept. 6) and Ohio (Sept. 13).
How Sayin matches up with Texas’ defense
Texas strengths:
- Front-seven disruption and length at corner force narrow throwing windows.
- Diverse pressure menu: simulated pressure from light boxes that spin late—disguising rotations post-snap.
OSU counters:
- Formational stress: Bunch/stack to free releases against press-man.
- Early rhythm: Quick game to loosen coverage rules, especially to the field side.
- Play-action + crossers: Attack linebackers stepping forward on RPO action.
- QB keepers: Not Sayin’s calling card, but sprinkled zone-reads keep edges honest.
If Sayin maintains a sub-2.6s time-to-throw and Ohio State stays on schedule (success on 1st/2nd down), the Buckeyes can keep Texas out of their exotic third-down packages.
The macro picture: Ohio State’s 2025 arc
Writers projecting Ohio State’s 2025 campaign generally peg a 10–2 ceiling or better, with a strong CFP probability—but much depends on the Texas result and November gauntlet (Penn State at home, Michigan on the road).
Schedule landmarks after Texas include:
- Grambling State (Sept. 6), Ohio (Sept. 13), at Washington (Sept. 27), then Big Ten play intensifies with Minnesota, at Illinois, at Wisconsin, Penn State, at Purdue, UCLA, Rutgers, at Michigan.
What OSU fans should watch for on opening day
- First script (10–15 plays): Expect quick rhythm throws and a couple of deep shots off max-protect to test Texas’ corners.
- 3rd-down design: Buckeyes must protect interior gaps; watch for RB chip help and slide protections to keep Sayin clean.
- Red-zone sequencing: Does Day lean run-heavy or trust Sayin on compressed-space crossers and fades?
- Communication: Hand signals and sideline tempo in the noise—especially crucial if Texas travels well.
If you’re Texas: what changes now?
Naming Sayin simplifies Texas’ film prep. Instead of splitting tendencies between QBs, the Longhorns can key:
- Intermediate outbreakers: Sit on speed-outs and deep comebacks that thrive on timing.
- Rotate late: Force Sayin to confirm post-snap rather than predetermine windows.
- Hit the pocket: Speed-to-power vs. OSU tackles and interior stunts to collapse launch points.
Still, if Sayin’s accuracy shows up early, the Buckeyes can punish single-high looks with layered shots—turning the day into a track meet.
Where and how to follow along
- Live game center & tickets: ESPN’s matchup page.
- Official team schedules & kickoff: Ohio State athletics; Texas athletics release confirming kickoff time and broadcast.
- Depth-chart context: Eleven Warriors’ open-practice depth projection listing Sayin at QB1.
- QB announcement reporting: ESPN, CBS Sports, FOX Sports, 247Sports.
- Schedule/backstory on kickoff debate: Eleven Warriors, Sports Illustrated, CBS Sports.
Backgrounder: How we got here
- Recruitment and transfer: Sayin, an elite recruit in the 2024 class, committed to Alabama then transferred to Ohio State, sitting in the queue behind veterans in 2024.
- 2025 camp narrative: Through August, open-practice buzz trended toward Sayin as the cleaner operator in structure, with Kienholz pushing. The staff’s final call locks QB1 two weeks before Texas.
Bold (but grounded) prediction
Because defenses are typically ahead of offenses in Week 1—and because Texas’ front can muddy pockets—expect a possession game early. But with scripted rhythm and a couple of explosives, Sayin can tilt EPA/play in Ohio State’s favor. If the Buckeyes win the turnover margin and hit at least two shots over 20 air yards, they edge Texas in a one-score finish.