Let's begin with a confession: I haven't watched a lot of Ohio State this year. Neither have you, I bet. We haven't had much of a reason to do so. After opening with a 14-7 win over preseason No. 1 Texas, the last time I convinced myself the Buckeyes might have to sweat to win a game was their trip to Washington, on Sept. 27. They won that game 24-6. Since then, Ohio State has played one ranked team and won by scores of 42-3, 34-16, 34-0, 38-14, 34-10, and 48-10.
So, we've established that the No. 1-ranked defending national champions are really good. They have the consensus best player in college football in wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, and linebacker Arvell Reese has shot to the top of some mock drafts. The defense ranks first or second nationally in total defense, yards per play, scoring defense, rushing defense and passing defense. And they apparently have a Heisman Trophy candidate in quarterback Julian Sayin, who's the second-favorite according to the betting markets, with ballots sent out to voters in less than two weeks.
On the surface, Sayin's Heisman candidacy makes sense. He's on pace to shatter the FBS single-season completion percentage record at 80.1, he's tied for second nationally at 9.5 yards per attempt, and leads the nation in passing efficiency. Sayin's 186.23 rating outpaces Caleb Williams and Bryce Young in their respective Heisman seasons. And yet the statistic that I find most compelling about Sayin's season is this one:
Zero.
That's the number of passes Sayin has thrown this season while trailing or tied in the second half.
This is not a criticism of Julian Sayin, the Player, but instead of Julian Sayin, the Heisman Candidate. It's not his fault that he's played every game on Freshman mode, but Julian Sayin has played every game -- especially since Texas -- on Freshman mode. The talent around Sayin colors everything around him. Not only does Sayin get to throw the ball to the consensus best player in college football, but everyone on the Ohio State offense benefits from Jeremiah Smith's gravitational pull, which is surpassed only by the sun. Ohio State coaches also call plays knowing there's no need to take grave risks, considering that a punt brings the best individual unit in college football onto the field. Sayin has also put up his numbers against the 50th toughest schedule in the country.
Now, let's consider a hypothetical. What is Ohio State's record with Diego Pavia, Haynes King, Fernando Mendoza, Ty Simpson, Gunner Stockton or Marcel Reed in Sayin's place? No need to think too hard, it's 10-0. What is Georgia Tech's record with Sayin at quarterback? Or Vanderbilt's? Mendoza is just a hair behind Sayin in efficiency numbers, and he piloted a win at Oregon and led one of the most clutch drives of the season, hitting 5-of-8 passes for 87 yards on a 10-play, 80-yard drive to beat Penn State. King and Pavia playing with the burden of knowing their teams won't win if they're not the best player on the field each week. Simpson, Stockton and Reed fit the same "quarterback on a title-contending team," but they've navigated tougher schedules and carry heavier loads for their teams than Sayin does for his. Stockton leads Georgia in rushing touchdowns, and Reed is the co-leader at Texas A&M. Sayin carries zero burden for Ohio State in the run game; in fact, he could become the first quarterback to win the Heisman with zero rushing touchdowns since Gino Toretta in 1992.
Heisman voters are also encouraged to remember there are more positions on the field than just quarterback. Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez is the standout performer on one of the best stories of the season -- he's one of 13 players nationally with 100 tackles, leads the nation in forced fumbles, and is one off the lead in interceptions. Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love has 1,135 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns for a title contender. Missouri's Ahmad Hardy leads the nation in rushing on nearly seven a carry without much a passing game to lighten his load. And while his resume has the same "Heisman Moment" hole as Sayin's, would anyone really be all that upset of Smith took home the stiffarm trophy? He is the best player in college football, after all.
Again, none of this is a criticism of Sayin the Player. If Ohio State is to defend its national title, Sayin will have to make big-time throws in pressure situations at some point, and I have full confidence he can do so. But the Heisman is a regular season award, and not only has that moment not yet happened, it hasn't come close.
We opened with a confession and already considered a hypothetical. We'll close with a riddle and a question.
The riddle: How can one be the most outstanding player in college football if you're not the most outstanding player in your own huddle?
The question: To win the Heisman, shouldn't a player have to spend at least a portion of the season, a game, a half, or even a single drive on Heisman Mode?