The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State Football Talk (Blue Wire)

Episode: How Ohio State QB Julian Sayin handled more responsibility vs. Grambling
Date: September 8, 2025
Host: Bill Landis

Overview

In this episode, Bill Landis offers an in-depth Monday rewatch breakdown of Ohio State's 70-0 win over Grambling State, focusing heavily on quarterback Julian Sayin's performance. Bill examines how Sayin handled an increased workload and responsibility, details his throwing efficiency, decision-making, and learning moments from both the Grambling and Texas games, and discusses the meaning behind specific play-calls and offensive strategies. The episode aims to provide nuanced insight for dedicated Buckeye fans, with the tone remaining analytical, optimistic, and informed.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Julian Sayin’s Game Stats & Efficiency

• Sayin's Stat Line:

  • 18 of 19 passing, 306 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT (his only incompletion was the interception).
  • Only played the first half due to Ohio State’s offensive dominance.
  • “When you think about it, Julian Sayin completed 18 passes to his team and one pass to the other team and otherwise that was it. He threw 19 passes and the ball never touched the ground.” — Bill Landis (09:25)

• Game Context:

  • Grambling State was not a strong opponent, providing Ohio State an opportunity to test Sayin in more situations.
  • “Take everything in this game with a bit of a grain of salt. Grambling is not only an FCS team, but a pretty bad FCS team.” — Bill Landis (05:39)

2. Handling Increased Responsibility

• Intentional Scheme Decisions:

  • The coaching staff (Ryan Day) put more on Sayin’s "plate," especially with passing and RPO (run-pass option) concepts.
  • With the starters, the offense threw the ball on 63% of snaps (“I wanted to see how Julian Sayin would respond to being put in some different situations…Ohio State did throw the ball 63% of the time.”) — Bill Landis (03:54)
  • About five run-pass options were called; mostly simple bubble screens/pre-snap reads.

• RPO Performance:

  • Sayin handled simple RPOs well; most reads were correct, with “probably about 7 yards” per throw on these plays (04:33).

• Tempo Management:

  • Ohio State played with increased tempo to test Sayin’s ability to manage the line and play fast. No procedural penalties while Sayin was in.
    • “I don’t believe Ohio State had any procedural penalties while he was in the game…those are the things you look out for.” — Bill Landis (06:32)
  • Noted as valuable practice for games that may require faster tempo.

3. Pushing the Ball Downfield

• More Deep Shots:

  • Against Texas, Sayin attempted only one pass over 20 yards (the 40-yard TD to Carnell Tate).
  • Against Grambling: three attempts of 20+ yards, four attempts of 15+ air yards.
  • “You want to see Julian Sayin push the ball down the field…Ohio State was intent on finding more explosive plays in this game.” — Bill Landis (08:41)

• Efficiency and Execution:

  • The offense looked highly efficient, maximizing opportunity for big plays against overmatched opposition.

4. Learning From Past and Present Mistakes

• Jeremiah Smith Deep Ball Correction:

  • Recalls the Texas 4th-and-1 where Sayin missed a wide-open Jeremiah Smith.
    • “I was curious what might happen the next time Julian Sayin found himself in a situation where it was clear that Jeremiah Smith was the guy to get the ball down the field. And it happened against Grambling…” — Bill Landis (12:20)
  • In the Grambling game, Sayin correctly identifies and hits Smith for an 87-yard touchdown (longest in Ohio Stadium history).
    • “Not only was it a bounce back from, you know, not doing something he probably should have done in Texas, he made a little bit of Ohio Stadium history while doing it.” — Bill Landis (13:54)

• On the Interception:

  • Sayin’s lone mistake came on a goal-line interception due to “hesitation” and tardiness on his decision rather than poor vision or size concerns.
    • “If that’s the case, then he has to get the ball to Carnell Tate faster…you can’t be late, especially when you’re throwing from the far hash in this case to the pylon, right? That’s a really far throw, that’s a lot of opportunity for the defense.” — Bill Landis (16:20)
  • Ryan Day postgame: the issue was timing, not the decision.
  • Landis sees this as a learning experience rather than a major concern.

5. Overall Assessment & Next Steps

• Growth & Poise:

  • Sayin has shown composure (poise in week 1, precision in week 2).
  • Demonstrates diverse throwing skills and high processing speed.
    • “He's not a one-speed thrower. He can make a lot of different throws that require, you know, a lot of different sort of styles and even body positions.” — Bill Landis (18:10)
  • The staff will continue to expand his role as the season progresses.

• Fan Engagement:

  • Encourages listeners/readers to check out further coverage and analysis on their Substack.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Sayin’s Efficiency:

  • “Julian Sayin completed 18 passes to his team and one pass to the other team and otherwise that was it. He threw 19 passes and the ball never touched the ground.” — Bill Landis [09:25]

• On the Move to More RPOs and Responsibility:

  • “Ryan Day said after the game that they wanted to put more things on Julian Sayin’s plate. And that definitely happened in this game.” — Bill Landis [02:10]

• On Growth from Texas to Grambling:

  • “You want to see Julian Sayin push the ball down the field some more. Ohio State was intent on finding more explosive plays in this game.” — Bill Landis [08:41]

• On the Jeremiah Smith 87-yard TD:

  • “He made a little bit of Ohio Stadium history while doing it…” — Bill Landis [13:54]

• On the Interception:

  • “Ryan Day said the biggest issue with that was…not the decision to throw the ball to Carnell, it was the timing of the decision.” — Bill Landis [16:31]

• On Sayin’s Potential:

  • “He's just scratching the surface…it's hard not to be excited about what he's put on display in the last two weeks.” — Bill Landis [18:46]

Important Segment Timestamps

• [01:21] — Opening Overview and Stats for Sayin
• [02:00–06:15] — Analysis of coaching intent, RPOs, tempo, and Sayin’s execution
• [07:50–09:25] — Deep ball usage vs. Grambling vs. Texas; offensive efficiency
• [11:36–14:44] — Sayin’s growth in processing, Jeremiah Smith’s record TD, fixing past mistakes
• [15:00–17:50] — The goal-line interception: learning from mistakes, staff feedback
• [18:10–19:44] — Assessment of Sayin’s development, versatility, and potential
• [19:45–20:20] — Upcoming coverage, sign-off

Summary

This episode is a thorough, insightful look into Julian Sayin’s expanding role as Ohio State’s quarterback. Bill Landis provides fans with context, detailed in-game analysis, and the bigger picture as to what these early-season games mean for Sayin’s development and the Buckeyes’ offense. Combining statistical review with film-study observations, the discussion is pragmatic but optimistic, pointing to Sayin’s ability to handle more responsibility and grow game-to-game. Both casual and dedicated Buckeye fans will appreciate the breakdown of Sayin’s continued emergence, the strategic pivots by the coaching staff, and the anticipation for stiffer competition ahead.