Julian Sayin's Heisman campaign lifts off in topranked Ohio State's win over Penn State Andy Backstrom November 2, 2025 at 6:25 AM 0 Ohio State QB Julian Sayin had a huge day for the Buckeyes in a win over Penn State. (Jason Mowry/Getty Images) (Jason Mowry via Getty Images) Ohio State wide receiver Brandon Inniss confidently told reporters Wednesday that Julian Sayin will win the Heisman Trophy this season. Why? "They'll see the rest of the year," Inniss said. Three days later, Sayin's Heisman campaign lifted off against his former defensive coordinator.
- - Julian Sayin's Heisman campaign lifts off in top-ranked Ohio State's win over Penn State
Andy Backstrom November 2, 2025 at 6:25 AM
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Ohio State QB Julian Sayin had a huge day for the Buckeyes in a win over Penn State. (Jason Mowry/Getty Images) (Jason Mowry via Getty Images)
Ohio State wide receiver Brandon Inniss confidently told reporters Wednesday that Julian Sayin will win the Heisman Trophy this season.
Why?
"They'll see the rest of the year," Inniss said.
Three days later, Sayin's Heisman campaign lifted off against his former defensive coordinator. Jim Knowles, who surprisingly left Ohio State for Penn State after helping the Buckeyes win it all last season and became the highest-paid DC in the sport this offseason.
Knowles' Nittany Lions unit was sliced and diced in his return to Columbus on Saturday. Although Penn State forced and recovered a fumble late in the second quarter to set up a quick touchdown drive that cut the Buckeyes' lead to three before halftime, Sayin's downfield bombardment ultimately left Penn State searching for more answers after a 38-14 loss, the Nittany Lions' fifth in a row and second straight since interim head coach Terry Smith took over for the fired James Franklin.
Sayin entered as far and away the nation's most accurate passer with an 80% completion rate. He lived up to the reputation against Penn State, especially in the early going.
The second-year Buckeyes signal-caller connected on his first 10 pass attempts and finished 20-of-23 passing for 316 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Sayin first found star wideout Jeremiah Smith for a 14-yard score to round out Ohio State's surgical game-opening drive. He saw safety Zakee Wheatley crashing down, and he attacked the space the Buckeyes' RPO created, whipping a dart to Smith for six.
A 22-yard Jayden Fielding field goal staked Ohio State to a 10-0 advantage. That's when Penn State started to put up a fight.
The Nittany Lions rushed for 76 yards over the first two quarters, the most the Buckeyes have allowed in a first half this season. Both of Penn State's seasoned running backs, Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton, got going, and Singleton capped a 15-play, 75-yard drive with a touchdown from three yards out on a toss sweep that was complemented by a jumbo package.
Along the way, Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer — not far from his hometown of Lewis Center, Ohio — converted a third-and-9 and then a third-and-10 with strikes to receivers Devonte Ross and Liam Clifford, respectively.
Sayin, a top-10 quarterback from the 2024 recruiting class like Grunkemeyer, quickly responded. He completed his first of two long balls to wideout Carnell Tate.
CARNELL TATE FOR THE TD 😤@OhioStateFB extends the lead@wendys pic.twitter.com/6ywG75jPKP
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 1, 2025
This one came with a reservation for six. Tate held up to reel in a slightly underthrown heave from Sayin over Penn State cornerback Zion Tracy, turned and dove to complete a 45-yard touchdown. Sayin kept the drive alive earlier by evading Nittany Lions defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton and juking linebacker Keon Wylie before scrambling for a first down on third-and-5.
The game appeared to turn with a rare Ohio State turnover. While Buckeyes running back CJ Donaldson fought for extra yards, Penn State linebacker Amare Campbell ripped the ball loose, and defensive end Chaz Coleman hopped on it for a recovery that gave the Nittany Lions a short field.
Four plays later, Allen punched the rock in for a 1-yard score that made it a 17-14 game.
The ball is out and @PennStateFball comes up with it! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/DK6pzh5dJe
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 1, 2025
That's as close as Sayin let Penn State get.
He came back with two more touchdown passes in the second half.
But first, he let Tate run underneath a 57-yard dime that set the stage for a redeeming Donaldson scoring plunge.
TATE FOR 57 YARDSCarnell Tate is just a nightmare on defenses for @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/VXB8bl9TE0
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 1, 2025
Shortly after a 57-yard hookup with Smith, Sayin rolled off a play fake and found tight end Bennett Christian in the back corner of the end zone late in the third quarter. In the fourth, his deflected red-zone pass bounced up in the air and into Smith's right claw for an 11-yard touchdown that stretched the Buckeyes' lead to 24.
Smith clocked out with 6 catches, 123 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns. Tate made 5 grabs for 124 yards and a score.
An Ohio State defense antsy to make up for allowing 14 first-half points shut down Penn State in the second half. Defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. sacked Grunkemeyer twice throughout the afternoon. He also batted down a pass. Safety Caleb Downs picked one off.
Sayin, though, was the star in the Horseshoe on Saturday against Penn State.
He could be on his way to making Inniss look prophetic.
Source: "AOL Sports"
Source: Sports
Published: November 01, 2025 at 09:27PM on Source: VOXI MAG
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