Julian Sayin vs. Josh Hoover: Two Different Paths, One Championship Goal

What do a five-star quarterback from California who once committed to play for Nick Saban and a three-star prospect from Texas who nearly started his career at Indiana have in common?

More than you might think.

Ohio State’s Julian Sayin and Indiana’s Josh Hoover took different paths to get to where they are today, but both share the same goal of winning a national championship.

Two Roads to the Stars: Sayin vs. Hoover

Julian Sayin was supposed to be the next big thing in Alabama. A five-star recruit, he committed to the Crimson Tide with plans to play for Saban. Then Saban retired and Sayin’s plans changed. He returned to Ohio State — a decision that has worked out pretty well for both sides.

Sayin spent the 2024 season learning from the sidelines, serving as the backup to Kansas State transfer Will Howard. While Sayin waited, Howard led the Buckeyes to a College Football Playoff run that ended with a national championship.

Then it was Sayin’s turn.

Taking over Ohio State’s offense came with a bonus any quarterback would dream of: Jeremiah Smith. I had the luxury of throwing it to Jeff Samarxhije. Anthony Fasano and Maurice Stovall during my time at Notre Dame. I quickly learned that an elite pass rusher can be a quarterback’s best friend, and Sayin and Smith have developed a strong bond. Sayin is finding his star again and again as Smith continues to rewrite the Buckeyes’ record book.

Sayin is best described as a point guard in Ohio State’s offense. He distributes the ball, takes it from the playmakers and rarely gives it to them. During his career, he has thrown 50 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions while completing passes at an elite rate. Last season, his 77% completion rate ranked third in FBS history.

When I spoke with Sayi earlier this week, he pointed to one area he wanted to improve on this season: using his feet to put more stress on opposing defenses. So far, that work has paid off, as he’s already rushed for two touchdowns after failing to score on the ground last season. He’s become more willing to scramble for a first down or extend a play when the pocket breaks down. Just look at what he did against Illinois.

There’s still one big question Sayin must answer heading into Saturday’s game against Indiana: Can he handle the Hoosiers’ pressure?

If Sayin wants to follow in Howard’s footsteps and lead Ohio State to another national championship, he’ll have to show he can stay calm when the defense turns up the heat. In the Buckeyes’ biggest games, pressure has been his biggest vulnerability. Sayin is an incredibly accurate passer, but his completion percentage drops by nearly 20 percentage points when under pressure.

You better believe Indiana defensive coordinator Bryant Haines will test Say to see if he can beat the blitz.

Hoover took a very different path than Sayin to get to where he is today. A three-star recruit from the Dallas metroplex, Hoover had originally committed to Indiana before returning to TCU to stay closer to home. After redshirting and spending a year backing up quarterback Chandler Morris, he took over as the Horned Frogs’ full-time starter in 2024. By the time he left Fort Worth, Hoover had nearly three years of starting experience, close to 10,000 yards and more than 70 touchdowns.

That production and experience made Hoover a top target for Indiana coach Curt Cignetti and his staff, who have gone to the transfer portal for a QB in five straight years since their time at James Madison. Once again, they’ve found a veteran who fits their system — and Hoover looks right at home in offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan’s offense.

Indiana’s offense gives Hoover plenty of opportunities to play to his strengths, from quick passes in the RPO game to over-the-shoulder throws when the Hoosiers drive the ball downfield. He has come in and made it look seamless. In fact, Hoover has the highest completion percentage among Big Ten quarterbacks on throws under 2.5 seconds.

If there was one criticism during Hoover’s time at TCU, it would be the turnovers, and they became a talking point in the offseason. So far, he’s responded emphatically, throwing 17 shutouts, putting those concerns firmly in the rearview mirror.

Now comes the chance for both quarterbacks to make a statement.

For Hoover, it’s about justifying his decision to come to Indiana. A win over the Buckeyes would prove that this program isn’t just a flash in the pan. Great players deliver in great moments. This is Hoover’s chance to do just that.

Sayin, meanwhile, has a chance to deliver the kind of signature performance that could propel Ohio State back to the top of the Big Ten. The Buckeyes haven’t won a Big Ten title since 2020, and beating Indiana would be a big step toward changing that. There may not be a better time for Sayin to make his mark.

A name to know…

With the first pick of the 2027 NFL draft…

Yes, that’s right, Oklahoma State QB Drew Mestemaker is giving off those kinds of vibes. The Cowboys gunslinger is turning heads and has the team’s no. 18 in the country dreaming of a Big 12 title and a CFP berth. NFL scouts are jumping to make a trip to Stillwater to eat some Eskimo Joes and watch the prodigy throw it.

To appreciate Mestemaker’s story, one must understand his journey.

Mestemaker never started a game at quarterback in high school. In fact, he only attempted 30 passes in his entire prep career — as a backup. Rated a zero-star recruit, he was offered a walk-on at North Texas under coach Eric Morris.

Even then, a path to playing time was by no means guaranteed. Mestemaker entered fall camp fifth on the depth chart before working his way into the backup role. His first chance to finally start came late in the season, when rookie quarterback Chandler Morris entered the transfer portal before the first game of the return against Texas State.

Mestemaker made the most of the opportunity, throwing for nearly 400 yards and two touchdowns while adding another 70 yards and a score on the ground and giving Morris a glimpse of what could be done. Two interceptions and a North Texas turnover dampened the performance, but there was enough to suggest the Mean Green might have found something special in the inexperienced quarterback.

Heading into the 2025 season, Mestemaker won the starting job over Miami transfer Ross Poffenbarger. He rewrote the North Texas record books in his first season as a starter and earned American Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors.

Fast forward to 2026, and Mestemaker followed Morris to Stillwater, Oklahoma, on a mission to resurrect the Oklahoma State offense. So far, he is delivering. The junior leads the Big 12 in passing touchdowns with 13 while guiding the Cowboys to a 4-1 start.

Mestemaker’s improbable path has drawn comparisons to Ryan Tannehill, who originally committed to Texas A&M as a quarterback before spending his first few seasons with the Aggies. Tannehill eventually moved back to quarterback for the final season and a half of his college career, setting the stage for his eventual success in the NFL.

What stands out most about Mestemaker is his knack for finding windows in coverage. Despite his limited experience, he plays like a seasoned veteran. He will occasionally take unnecessary risks and put the ball in danger, but this generally comes as a result of the sheer volume of passes he throws. Mestemaker averages 34 pass attempts per game, the most in the Big 12, and the game situation sometimes calls for him to take chances. He’s also a threat with his feet, showing the resilience to tackle in the end zone.

This week, the Pokes hit the road to face Houston in what could be their toughest Big 12 test yet. For Mestemaker, it’s a chance to make a statement against a quality opponent and take another step up the NFL Draft board.

What I’m looking at…

Since this is my column, I might as well be honest about what I’ll actually be watching Saturday night: my Fighting Irish facing a top-10 opponent on the road in their toughest test of the season to date.

This match has no shortage of storylines and has been building for months. Remember when Notre Dame left the Pop-Tarts Bowl after being bounced from the College Football Playoff? Well, that game would be against BYU, who went on to win and bask in the glory of a giant Pop-Tart. Personally, I’m more of a brown sugar cinnamon guy.

This game was put together after the Notre Dame-USC rivalry fell away. BYU agreed to host the Irish during the open date usually occupied by USC in even-numbered years, setting up a trip to Provo as the Leafs change throughout the heartland. Instead of heading west to Southern California, Notre Dame will make the trip to the mountains of Utah for what should be a picturesque setting and great atmosphere.

I remember opening our season at BYU in 2004. We had no idea what we were getting into. LaVell Edwards Stadium was rocking and Cougar fans were high and high. It was an unpleasant environment.

We beat BYU last season in South Bend, 33-14. But this time, the Cougars threw a pack of pressure on us that took until the second half to figure out. By then, it was too late.

There won’t be many surprises this time. Both teams have enough film of each other to understand what the other wants to do, and both have experienced quarterbacks who have commanded their respective offenses: Bear Bachmeier for BYU and CJ Carr for Notre Dame.

However, their styles couldn’t be more different.

Carr operates from the pocket like a prototypical NFL quarterback. He diagnoses defenses before the snap, identifies potential weaknesses and looks to exploit them through the air. Bachmeier can hurt defenses on designed quarterback runs, but he’s also a very alert runner when passing underneath. Give him an opening and he’ll put the ball in and go away.

For Notre Dame, a win would validate the dominance it has shown so far this season. For BYU, it’s a chance to prove the Cougars belong among the nation’s elite.

Desert pundits have the Cougars as a double-digit home underdog.