Julian Sayin Named To Manning Award Watch List Ahead of Showdown With Arch Manning

Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin earned his fifth preseason watch list selection with the Manning Award as a highly anticipated matchup with Arch Manning and Texas approaches.

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) smiles participates in the third day of training camp at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Aug. 8, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Julian Sayin was named to the Manning Award Preseason Watch List ahead of the 2026 season, marking the fifth preseason watch list appearance for the junior quarterback.

Ahead of his second season starting for the Buckeyes, Sayin was named to the Maxwell and Walter Camp award watch lists, both of which recognize college football’s top player.

He also earned spots on the Unitas Golden Arm Award watch list, which honors the nation’s top upperclassman quarterback, and the Davey O’Brien Award watch list, which recognizes the country’s best quarterback.

Sayin’s 2025 statline

Sayin made an immediate impact in his first season as Ohio State’s starting quarterback, winning his first 12 starts and finishing as a Heisman Trophy finalist. He led the nation with a program- and Big Ten-record 77.0% completion rate while throwing for 3,610 yards, 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions. 

Sayin also recorded six 300-yard passing performances, including standout games against Minnesota and Wisconsin in which he completed more than 85% of his passes with at least three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Manning Award background

Established in 2004, the Manning Award honors the legacy of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning and is presented annually by the Allstate Sugar Bowl to the nation’s top college quarterback. Unlike other major quarterback awards, postseason performance factors into the selection. The finalists are determined before bowl season, with the recipient selected after the College Football Playoff National Championship.

Indiana’s quarterback Fernando Mendoza won the Manning Award for the 2025 season after leading Indiana to a national championship.

Peyton Manning on Julian Sayin and the Buckeyes

When Manning was in Columbus earlier this summer for the Memorial Tournament pro-am, he discussed the upcoming Ohio State vs. Texas game. Sayin will face Peyton’s nephew, Arch Manning, in Week 2 in Austin—a rematch for Texas after the Longhorns fell to the Buckeyes 14-7 in Columbus in Week 1 last season. Arch is also among the quarterbacks named to the Manning Award Preseason Watch List.

“It’s two great programs, and I think both teams will be really good this year,” Manning said about the upcoming game. “Pulling hard for my nephew this fall, looking forward to watching him play. I might find my way down to Austin for that game. That should be a good one.”

Manning also noted that Sayin would attend the Manning Passing Academy in Louisiana, where he served as a camp counselor and instructor for high school players in late June.

“Looking forward to seeing him,” Manning said about Sayin. “I pull for all these great programs.”