Is Julian Sayin a freshman? The answer is a little confusing, but here’s why the Ohio State quarterback is both a true sophomore and a redshirt freshman at the same time. His recent Big Ten Freshman of the Year award has sparked debate across college football, and the eligibility situation explains everything.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Julian Sayin named 2025 Big Ten Freshman of the Year on December 5, 2025
- The 12th Ohio State player to win the award, following Jeremiah Smith
- Enrolled early at Alabama in January 2023, transferred to Ohio State in 2024
- Played only 4 games in 2024, maintaining redshirt status for college football eligibility
The Two-Status Paradox Explained
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The confusion comes down to how college football measures eligibility differently from academic standing. By college football standards, Julian Sayin is classified as a redshirt freshman because he played in the maximum 4 games allowed without burning his redshirt year. This means he retains all 4 years of eligibility.
Yet academically, Sayin is a true sophomore. He enrolled at Alabama in January 2024 and has been in college for nearly 2 full years. The Ohio State official roster even states he is a “true sophomore with four years of eligibility,” which creates the paradox fans are pointing out.
Why The Big Ten Award Makes Sense
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The Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year Award uses eligibility as its criteria, not calendar years. Since Sayin has 4 years of remaining eligibility, he qualifies as a freshman by NCAA standards. He’s one of 5 finalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, competing against BYU’s Bear Bachmeier, Miami’s Malachi Toney, Alabama’s Dijon Lee, and Notre Dame’s C.J. Carr.
This freshman award eligibility is based strictly on remaining years of eligibility, meaning thousands of players with academic seniority technically remain “freshmen” until they use their years. Sayin’s performance justifies the honor regardless of the confusion.
| Classification | Status |
| College Football Eligibility | Redshirt Freshman (4 years remaining) |
| Academic Classification | True Sophomore (since Jan 2024) |
| 1st Season at Ohio State | 2025 (true freshman playing year) |
| Games Played (2024) | 4 games (maximum for redshirt) |
The Controversy Over Other Candidates
Fans of BYU’s Bear Bachmeier have been vocal about what they see as an unfair advantage for Sayin. Bachmeier is a true freshman in every sense—his first year on a college campus coming straight from high school. He’s posting impressive numbers with 2,593 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, and 11 rushing touchdowns while setting BYU’s record for quarterback rushing TDs.
The debate highlights how award criteria can favor players with prior college experience. Sayin, C.J. Carr, and Drew Mestmaker all have played college football previously, while Bachmeier truly is a first-year player on campus. Despite the controversy, Sayin’s dominance as a Heisman Trophy contender positions him as the strongest candidate.
“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.”
— Sporting News, Sports Eligibility Analysis
What’s Next for Julian Sayin’s Freshman Status?
Sayin heads into the Big Ten Championship Game against Indiana with a chance to cement his legacy. A win could push him toward the Heisman Trophy, an award that has historically gone to distinction-level performers in their first or second seasons. His eligibility as a redshirt freshman doesn’t diminish his remarkable season—it merely explains a quirk of college football’s rulebook.
Whether he wins the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award or captures the Heisman, Sayin’s 2025 campaign has been exceptional regardless of what you call his classification. The Ohio State quarterback has proven he belongs in college football’s elite conversation.
Watch: Julian Sayin Wins Big Ten Freshman of the Year
Sources
- Sporting News – Detailed eligibility breakdown and freshman classification rules
- The Spun – Controversy analysis and Shaun Alexander Award finalist information
- Ohio State Official Athletics – Roster and award announcement details
Michael Brown is a seasoned sports journalist bringing years of experience covering professional athletics and sporting culture. With a keen eye for breaking stories and player dynamics, this veteran journalist delivers in-depth analysis and exclusive insights from the world’s biggest sporting events. His passion for the game shines through in every story, keeping fans connected to the action both on and off the field.