Julian Sayin, the latest in Ohio State's No. 10 legacy, is a Heisman finalist who's just getting started

"I think as a quarterback, you have to rise to the occasion."

Ohio State quarterback met with reporters Wednesday before leaving for the Heisman ceremony in New York. (Photo by Doug Lesmerises)

COLUMBUS — Julian Sayin is the fifth prominent Ohio State quarterback to wear the No. 10. The first four were a national champion, a cautionary tale, a Heisman Trophy winner and a missed opportunity.

Sayin could be anything. Because for a record-setting Heisman finalist and quarterback for the national title favorite, the 20-year-old is a bit of a blank slate.

We’ve learned his story — California kid, committed to Alabama, transferred to Ohio State. Wednesday when I asked Sayin for any Heisman Trophy memories, he said he was a Marcus Mariota fan growing up and at age 9 excitedly watched the Oregon quarterback pick up his Heisman.

And then came that national game to conclude the 2014 season where Ohio State beat Oregon and Mariota 42-20.

“Yeah, that one hurt, that one hurt as a fan to watch, that one hurt,” Sayin said with a smile.

Sayin’s last game hurt, too.

Ohio State lost to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game and Hoosiers’ quarterback Fernando Mendoza is almost certainly grabbing that trophy Saturday. Sayin is likely the fourth-place finisher, also behind Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia and Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love. It was announced Wednesday that teammates Jeremiah Smith (6th) and Caleb Downs (9th) also finished in the Top 10 of Heisman voting. In our Substack survey, 42 percent of you said Smith would have been the Buckeye on your Heisman ballot, while Sayin got 32 percent, Downs 12 percent and four other Buckeyes 11 percent.

He wasn’t his own team’s best Heisman candidate to two-thirds of smart, loyal fans.

That’s not a criticism of the quarterback or the fans. It’s … part of a continuing get-to-know-you process.