Julian Sayin vs. Josh Hoover: Two Different Paths, Same Championship Ambitions

What do a five-star quarterback from California who once committed to play for Nick Saban and a three-star prospect from Texas who nearly started his career at Indiana have in common?

More than you might think.

Ohio State's Julian Sayin and Indiana's Josh Hoover took different paths to get where they are today, but both share the same goal of winning a national championship.

Julian Sayin was supposed to be the next big thing at Alabama. A five-star recruit, he committed to the Crimson Tide with plans to play for Saban. Then Saban retired, and Sayins plans changed. He pivoted to Ohio State — a decision that has worked out pretty well for both sides.

Sayin spent the 2024 season learning from the sideline, serving as the backup to Kansas State transfer Will Howard. While Sayin waited, Howard led the Buckeyes on a College Football Playoff run that ended with a national championship. 

Then it was Sayins turn.

Taking over the Ohio State offense came with a bonus that any quarterback would dream about: Jeremiah Smith. I had the luxury of throwing to Jeff Samardzija. Anthony Fasano and Maurice Stovall during my time at Notre Dame. I quickly learned that an elite pass-catcher can be a quarterback's best friend, and Sayin and Smith have developed a strong connection. Sayin is finding his star receiver again and again as Smith continues to rewrite the Buckeyes record book. 

Sayin is best described as a point guard within Ohio State's offense. He distributes the ball, gets it to his playmakers and rarely gives it away. Through his career, he has thrown 50 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions while completing passes at an elite rate. Last season, his 77% completion rate ranked third in FBS history.

When I spoke with Sayin earlier this week, he pointed out one area he wanted to improve this season: using his legs to put more stress on opposing defenses. So far, that work has paid off, as he has already rushed for two touchdowns after failing to score on the ground last season. He has become more willing to scramble for a first down or extend a play when the pocket breaks down. Just look at what he did against Illinois.

There's still one big question Sayin must answer in Saturday's game against Indiana: Can he handle the Hoosiers' pressure?

If Sayin wants to follow in Howard's footsteps and lead Ohio State to another national championship, he'll need to show he can stay composed when defenses turn up the heat. In the Buckeyes' biggest games, pressure has been his biggest vulnerability. Sayin is an incredibly accurate passer, but his completion percentage drops by nearly 20 percentage points when he's under pressure.

You better believe Indiana defensive coordinator Bryant Haines will test Sayin to see if he can beat the blitz. 

Hoover took a very different path from Sayin to get to where he is today. A three-star recruit out of the Dallas metroplex, Hoover was originally committed to Indiana before flipping to TCU to stay closer to home. After redshirting and spending a year backing up quarterback Chandler Morris, he took over as the Horned Frogs full-time starter in 2024. By the time he left Fort Worth, Hoover had nearly three years of starting experience, close to 10,000 passing yards and more than 70 touchdowns.

This production and experience made Hoover a prime target for Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti and his staff, who have gone to the transfer portal for a QB in five straight years dating back to their time at James Madison. Once again, theyve found a veteran who fits their system — and Hoover looks right at home in offensive coordinator Mike Shanahans offense.

Indianas attack gives Hoover plenty of opportunities to play to his strengths, from quick passes in the RPO game to back-shoulder throws when the Hoosiers push the ball downfield. Hes stepped in and made it look seamless. In fact, Hoover has the highest completion percentage among Big Ten quarterbacks on thro