Eric Boggs
With the season opener against Texas just days away, Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline believes the Buckeyes’ offense is in good hands under redshirt freshman quarterback Julian Sayin. In his press conference earlier this week, Hartline emphasized that Sayin’s steady growth, leadership, and consistency ultimately earned him the starting job.
Hartline said he’s been impressed by Sayin’s maturity and decision-making throughout camp, explaining that “he’s done a good job of being consistent with taking care of the football. He’s done a really good job of giving guys opportunities to make plays. It wasn’t just one play here or there that decided it — it was the entire body of work.”
Sayin, a highly-touted five-star recruit, arrived in Columbus with lofty expectations, and according to Hartline, he’s met the challenge head-on. Beyond his arm talent, Hartline said Sayin’s ability to command the huddle and earn the respect of his teammates was critical in separating him from the competition. “Command and earning the respect of your peers is huge,” Hartline explained. “The locker room always knows. It doesn’t matter what you may think from the outside — the guys in that room know the reality. Julian built trust through his work in the offseason, through camp, and through his communication. You can’t fake time, and he put the time in.”
While Sayin has been the headline grabber, this season also marks a new chapter for Hartline. After years of working closely alongside head coach Ryan Day, he’s now stepping into a larger role in game planning and play-calling. Hartline said that his approach mirrors much of what he’s learned from Day, but he also embraces his own style. He admitted that “everything I do and operate is in resemblance of Ryan. I’ve learned so much from him over the years — his communication, his offensive mind, his ability to be deliberate in every decision. I just want to make sure I don’t let him or the team down.”
Hartline added that his primary focus is ensuring the Buckeyes are organized, prepared, and able to maximize every opportunity. With the highly anticipated Cotton Bowl rematch against Texas looming, Hartline is confident in the plan and in his quarterback’s readiness. He pointed out that “you’re going to have your Ohio State version 1, and you’re going to have your Ohio State version 13. If we’re not enhancing along the way — chemistry-wise, scheme-wise, growth-wise — we’ll get stuck. But we’re not slowing down. We feel really good about where we’re at.”
With Sayin leading the offense and Hartline dialing up the plays, the Buckeyes enter Saturday’s showdown against No. 1-ranked Texas looking to make an early statement. And if Hartline’s confidence in his young quarterback is any indication, Ohio State fans have plenty of reasons to believe the future is bright.
