Sayin Named Semifinalist for Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award
11/5/2025 2:07:00 PM | Football
Currently leads the nation in completion percentage and quarterback rating
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State's Julian Sayin was named on Wednesday as one of 14 semifinalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award. The award will be presented at the Maxwell Football Club.
Finalists will be announced on December 3, 2025, and the winner of the award will be announced on December 30, 2025. The formal presentation of this award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Atlanta, Ga.
Sayin currently leads the nation in completion percentage (80.7) and is also first in quarterback rating (197.1). He's the first QB in program history to complete 85 percent of his passes (minimum 10 attempts) in back-to-back games and so far this season has six games with a completion percentage of 75 percent or better.
In last Saturday's 38-14 win over Penn State, Sayin was 20-of-23 for 316 yards and four touchdowns. He was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week and the Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Week. Sayin currently ranks in the top five nationally in four major statistical categories: completion percentage (first), QB rating (first), touchdown passes (third – 23) and yards per attempt (second – 10.0).
Ohio State Buckeye National Award Semifinalists
Butkus Award – Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese
Lombardi Award – Caden Curry, Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese
Thorpe Award – Caleb Downs
Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year – Julian Sayin
