Carlsbad's Julian Sayin Eyes Championship Glory After Strong Heisman Showing

The Heisman Trophy ceremony came and went last weekend, with Indiana's Fernando Mendoza taking home college football's most prestigious individual honor. For Carlsbad High alum Julian Sayin, the Ohio State Buckeyes' poised and talented quarterback, the stiff-arm trophy will have to wait—at least for now.

But make no mistake—Carlsbad's native son isn't losing sleep over it.

Sayin finished fourth in the Heisman voting with 432 points and eight first-place votes, a remarkable showing for a sophomore signal-caller. More importantly, he's made it clear all season: individual awards are nice, but his ultimate dream is hoisting the College Football Playoff National Championship trophy with his Buckeye teammates.

A Breakout Season in Columbus

In his sophomore campaign as Ohio State's starting quarterback, the former Carlsbad High School standout has delivered exactly what Buckeye Nation hoped for. Sayin has taken command of Ryan Day's high-powered offense, completing an impressive 78.9% of his passes while turning heads with his arm talent, composure under pressure, and playmaking ability.

From clutch performances in crucial Big Ten matchups to leading the Buckeyes into playoff position, Sayin has proven he belongs among the elite signal-callers in the country. While the Heisman voters ultimately crowned Mendoza, Sayin's body of work throughout the season positioned him as one of the nation's premier quarterbacks.

Now, with the College Football Playoff in full swing, Sayin and Ohio State have bigger business to handle. The defending national champions are positioned for a legitimate run to repeat, and a second consecutive title would mean far more to the young QB than any individual hardware.

The Road Ahead

No. 2 Ohio State is preparing for their College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup on December 31st against the winner of Texas A&M and Miami. As the defending champions, the Buckeyes enter the playoff with high expectations and the experience of winning it all last season.

For Sayin, this postseason represents an opportunity to add to his growing legacy while leading his team toward the ultimate prize.

Holiday Bowl: Arizona and SMU Ready for Showdown

Photo Credit: David Frerker / Holiday Bowl

With the Trust & Will Holiday Bowl set to kick off after New Year's Day, both Arizona head coach Brent Brennan and SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee expressed enthusiasm and mutual respect during Monday's coaches press conference in San Diego.

A Homecoming for Brennan

For Brennan, the Holiday Bowl represents a return to familiar territory. The Arizona coach shared personal connections to the storied bowl game, recalling his time as a graduate assistant at Washington in 1999 and watching his brother play in the 1998 edition.

"The University of Arizona is incredibly honored to be in the Trust & Will Holiday Bowl," Brennan said, praising the hospitality of Sports San Diego and its legendary red jackets. He emphasized the significance of playing in California, his home state, and noted that much of Arizona's roster hails from the Golden State.

The Wildcats enter the match-up with one of the nation's top defenses and the country's best turnover margin. Brennan urged fans to snap up the remaining 5,000 tickets, promising an exceptional college football game.

SMU's Postseason Tradition Continues

Lashlee, leading SMU to its seventh straight postseason appearance, acknowledged the Holiday Bowl's prestigious history while looking to improve the Mustangs' recent bowl game record.

"For our school, our fan base, and our players to get to play in this game is a huge honor," Lashlee said, referencing SMU's memorable 1980 Holiday Bowl appearance featuring Eric Dickerson and Craig James.

The SMU coach praised Arizona's formidable defense, highlighting their ranking as the second-best turnover defense in the country and noting that only two teams have scored over 30 points against them in regulation this season.