Julian Sayin, the Ohio State quarterback, was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
He's also on the finalist list to be named the top freshman in the entire country. And yet, there are some who say he's a sophomore and are very confused.
So let's get to the bottom of this.
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Is Julian Sayin a freshman?
Yes and no.
By college football standards, Sayin is a redshirt freshman. He played four games in fall of 2024, which is the maximum a player can have without losing a year of eligibility, thus counting as a redshirt year.
Academically, Sayin is a sophomore. He's been in college since January 2024.
The Ohio State bio for Sayin also confuses fans, writing that, "Sayin is a true sophomore with four years of eligibility."
To have four years of eligibility in college sports makes a player a freshman, by traditional nomenclature.
Have not understood this at all. Sayin played in only four games last season as a freshman, which would seem to make him a redshirt freshman. OSU's write-up also says, "True sophomore with four years of eligibility remaining." If he has four years left, he's a freshman.
— CFB Focus 🏈 (@cffmwachsman) December 5, 2025
Since he… pic.twitter.com/vUMbZCZyoI
Some of the fans who are upset about all this think BYU's Bear Bachmeier is getting ripped off in the discussion of best frosh in the country. And there's something to be said there, as this is Bear's literal first year on a college campus. He's a true freshman.
But as far as Sayin is concerned, in college football parlance, he's considered a freshman, albeit of the redshirt variety.
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