Ryan Day made it official: Julian Sayin will be Ohio State’s starting quarterback, taking his first snaps in the scarlet and gray on the biggest stage imaginable — a Noon showdown in The Shoe against No. 1 Texas on August 30th, live on FOX.

Sayin won’t face it alone. Sonny Styles, fresh off being named the Block O recipient, anchors a captain group that blends proven stars with emerging voices: Styles, Caleb Downs, Austin Siereveld, and Brandon Inniss. Together, they represent the leadership core of a roster aiming to defend its national title.

It’s an opener that feels more like a playoff game — a rematch with Texas, the defending SEC champions, in front of 100,000 Buckeye faithful. And yet, there’s a sense of belief in Columbus. With Sayin under center, Styles setting the defensive tone, and four captains uniting the locker room, Ohio State doesn’t just enter 2025 with hope — it enters with purpose.