Sayin Named to Unitas Golden Arm Award Preseason Watch List
8/19/2026 2:53:00 PM | Football
This marks the third watch list so far this preseason that Sayin has been placed on. He was also listed as a Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award watch lists.
BALTIMORE, Md. – Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin was named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Preseason Watch List, as announced by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation Wednesday afternoon.
This marks the third watch list so far this preseason that Sayin has been placed on. He was also listed as a Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award watch lists, which are both given to the best player in college football. Additionally, he has been named a preseason All-American by ESPN, Walter Camp, Athlon and Phil Steele while also be placed on the Big Ten Preseason Honors list.
Sayin won his first 12 games as the starter for Ohio State, becoming the third Buckeye quarterback in the Ryan Day era to do so.
In the process, he became a Heisman Trophy finalist and led the nation in completion percentage (77.0 pct.), ranking second nationally in efficiency (177.5) while throwing for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns (fourth nationally) with only eight interceptions.
His 77.0 completion percentage in 2025 is the best in single-season program history, is a Big Ten Record and also is third highest in FBS history (Bo Nix in 2023 at Oregon (77.4 pct.) and Mac Jones in 2020 at Alabama (77.4 pct.).
3,610 passing yards in 2025 ranks fifth in single-season program history. 301 pass completions in 2025 rank fourth in single-season program history.
He became the first Ohio State quarterback to complete better than 85 pct. of his passes in a game for over 300 yards and at least three TDs and no interceptions when he did so vs. Minnesota (85.2 pct.-326 yards-3 TDs) on Oct. 4, 2025 and Wisconsin (85.7-393-4) on Oct. 18, 2025.
Sayin goes into the 2026 season with six career 300-plus yard passing games which ranks sixth in career program history.
Ohio State Preseason Honors
This marks the third watch list so far this preseason that Sayin has been placed on. He was also listed as a Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award watch lists, which are both given to the best player in college football. Additionally, he has been named a preseason All-American by ESPN, Walter Camp, Athlon and Phil Steele while also be placed on the Big Ten Preseason Honors list.
Sayin won his first 12 games as the starter for Ohio State, becoming the third Buckeye quarterback in the Ryan Day era to do so.
In the process, he became a Heisman Trophy finalist and led the nation in completion percentage (77.0 pct.), ranking second nationally in efficiency (177.5) while throwing for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns (fourth nationally) with only eight interceptions.
His 77.0 completion percentage in 2025 is the best in single-season program history, is a Big Ten Record and also is third highest in FBS history (Bo Nix in 2023 at Oregon (77.4 pct.) and Mac Jones in 2020 at Alabama (77.4 pct.).
3,610 passing yards in 2025 ranks fifth in single-season program history. 301 pass completions in 2025 rank fourth in single-season program history.
He became the first Ohio State quarterback to complete better than 85 pct. of his passes in a game for over 300 yards and at least three TDs and no interceptions when he did so vs. Minnesota (85.2 pct.-326 yards-3 TDs) on Oct. 4, 2025 and Wisconsin (85.7-393-4) on Oct. 18, 2025.
Sayin goes into the 2026 season with six career 300-plus yard passing games which ranks sixth in career program history.
Ohio State Preseason Honors
- Phil Steele:
- Six Ohio State players were named preseason All-Americans by the publication while 16 Buckeyes were placed on the preseason All-Big Ten team.
- Athlon Sports:
- Seven Ohio State players were named preseason All-Americans by the publication while 16 Buckeyes were placed on the preseason All-Big Ten team.
- Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List:
- AFCA Good Works Nominees:
- Shriners Children's East-West Bowl 1000
- Ohio State football had 19 players selected to the Shriners Children's East-West Bowl 1000. The list includes a representative from almost every position room at Ohio State including five defensive lineman, four offensive linemen, three safeties and three wide receivers.
- Big Ten Preseason Honors List:
- Maxwell Preseason Watch List:
- Mannelly Preseason Watch List:
- Outland Trophy Watch List:
- Nagurski Watch List:
- Mackey Award Watch List:
- Sporting News Preseason All-Americans:
- Junior wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was placed on the first time while offensive linemen Luke Montgomery and Austin Siereveld were listed on the second team.
- Rimington Trophy Watch List:
- Lou Groza Watch List:
- Hornung Award Watch List:
- On3 Preseason All-Americans:
- Junior wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was placed on the first time while offensive linemen Luke Montgomery was listed on the second team and Austin Siereveld was placed on the third team.
- Wuerffel Trophy Watch List:
- Lombardi Award Watch List:
- Thrope Award Watch List:
- ESPN Preseason All-America
- Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and quarterback Julian Sayin were both named to the first team ahead of the 2026 season.
- Walter Camp Watch List:
- Doak Walker Watch List:
- CBS Preseason All-America
- Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and offensive lineman Luke Montgomery were both named to the first team ahead of the 2026 season.
- AP Preseason All-America
- Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was named a first team selection and offensive lineman Luke Montgomery was placed on the second team ahead of the 2026 season.
- Biletnikoff Watch List:
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