Eric Boggs
Caleb Downs has been everything Ohio State fans hoped for and more—an elite playmaker on the field and a leader who represents the program with class off of it. That dual impact was recognized on Sunday night when Downs won the prestigious Lott IMPACT Trophy, an award honoring the defensive player who best embodies Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity. For a Buckeye captain who has been steady, selfless and relentless, the honor feels fitting.
Downs earned the award over top defenders from Georgia, Miami and Texas Tech, becoming only the second Buckeye ever to win it—the first since James Laurinaitis in 2008. His production speaks loudly enough: 60 tackles, five tackles for loss, a sack, two interceptions and two pass breakups through 13 games. But what truly sets Downs apart is the way he leads, carries himself and elevates the people around him. That combination of dominance and character is what Ohio State fans have celebrated all season.
While Downs has anchored the defense, first-year starting quarterback Julian Sayin has powered the Buckeyes’ undefeated regular season and continued the program’s remarkable streak of Heisman Trophy relevance. Sayin is officially one of four finalists for the 2025 Heisman, extending Ohio State’s run to seven Heisman finalists since 2018—more than any program in the country.
Sayin’s efficiency has been unmatched. He leads the nation in completion percentage at 78.4% and in passer rating at 182.1, putting him ahead of Bo Nix’s NCAA single-season accuracy record. His poise, consistency and precision helped guide the Buckeyes to a 12-0 regular season and the No. 2 seed in the College Football Playoff, making his freshman-year rise one of the nation’s best stories.
Although Sayin’s Heisman hopes took a hit with the loss to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game—where Fernando Mendoza became the clear favorite—being a finalist is a significant achievement for any player, let alone the only underclassman in the group. For Sayin, it’s also just the beginning. He remains in the running for the Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year and the Davey O’Brien Award, each of which will be presented during ESPN’s College Football Awards Show on Friday.
Together, Downs and Sayin exemplify what Ohio State football strives to be: tough, talented, accountable, and nationally respected. One leads with veteran composure, the other with youthful brilliance—but both are going to need to be at their best when the Buckeyes takes the field again at the end of the month in the Cotton Bowl.
As the awards are handed out and the Heisman ceremony airs Saturday night, Buckeye Nation will be watching proudly, knowing the foundation of the program’s future is as strong as ever.
