Eric Boggs
Ohio State’s 2025 season will be remembered as one of the most talent-rich years in modern Buckeye history, and now two of the freshmen who defined the season and look like program cornerstones have been honored. On Wednesday, quarterback Julian Sayin and running back Bo Jackson were named Freshman All-Americans by the Football Writers Association of America, a fitting recognition for two players who didn’t just contribute early, but became central figures in a dominant 12–0 regular season.
Sayin’s debut season was a memorable one. The Carlsbad, California native completed an FBS-best 77 percent of his passes while throwing for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns, commanding Ohio State’s offense with a poise and efficiency rarely seen from a fourth-year quarterback, let alone a first year starter.
His leadership was on full display during the Buckeyes’ 27–9 statement win over Michigan in Ann Arbor, a victory that helped seal an undefeated regular season and earned him Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year honors. With the FWAA Offensive Freshman of the Year award still in play, Sayin’s résumé already reads like that of a seasoned veteran rather than a newcomer.
Jackson’s rise was equally important to Ohio State’s success. The Cleveland native and Glenville High School product seized the starting running back role as a true freshman, carrying the ball 179 times for 1,090 yards and six touchdowns. In doing so, he became just the fifth freshman in Ohio State history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, joining an elite group that includes Robert Smith, Maurice Clarett, J.K. Dobbins, and TreVeyon Henderson. His second-team All-Big Ten selection only reinforced what Buckeye fans watched all fall: a back with power, patience, and big-play ability built for championship football.
Perhaps just as important as the awards themselves is the fact that both Sayin and Jackson are returning in 2026. Retaining Jackson after brief transfer portal speculation was a massive win for the program, and with Sayin, Jackson, Jeremiah Smith, and Brandon Inniss all back, Ohio State will enter next season with one of the most dangerous and balanced offenses in the country.
Their success also fits within the broader story of a historic year in Columbus. Ohio State finished 2025 with a program-tying seven first-team All-Americans according to The Sporting News: Caleb Downs, Kayden McDonald, Jeremiah Smith, Sonny Styles, Caden Curry, Arvell Reese, and Carson Hinzman. Four of those — Downs, McDonald, Reese, and Smith — became consensus All-Americans, recognized across the AP, Walter Camp, and AFCA, as the Buckeyes placed eight total players on the AP All-America teams. The season set new internal standards for both unanimous and combined unanimous/consensus selections, further confirming just how deep and dominant this roster truly was.
For Ohio State fans, the message is clear. The 2025 season was not only about what the Buckeyes achieved, but about what they are becoming. With elite veterans earning national recognition and freshmen like Sayin and Jackson already performing at an All-American level, the future of the program looks bright, despite their recent transfer portal losses.
