Overview

• Sayin’s debut began with an early fourth-and-1 incompletion toward tight end Max Klare, with Jeremiah Smith breaking open on the play and both Smith and Ryan Day showing visible frustration.
• On The Pat McAfee Show a day earlier, Day emphasized there are no statistical benchmarks for Sayin, only that he rely on his daily work to find a way to win.
• Ohio State named Sayin the Week 1 starter on Aug. 18 after a months-long competition, and he arrived as a transfer from Alabama following Nick Saban’s retirement.
• The redshirt freshman saw limited action last season (5-of-12 passing for 84 yards and a touchdown) behind Will Howard, who was drafted in the sixth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
• A former five-star and 247Sports’ No. 1 quarterback in his class, Sayin drew praise from Texas coach Steve Sarkisian for his accuracy and arm talent and steps in with elite targets Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate and projected starting back James Peoples.