Julian Sayin carries a $2.5 million On3 NIL valuation for 2026, his second season as Ohio State’s starting quarterback. His first NIL deals came before he played a snap for the Buckeyes: an exclusive multi year trading card deal with Panini America in January 2024 and a deal with The Foundation, Ohio State’s NIL collective, weeks after he transferred from Alabama when Nick Saban retired. As a first year starter in 2025 he threw for 3,937 yards, 30 touchdowns and three interceptions.
| Partner | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The Foundation | Ohio State collective | Signed Feb. 14, 2024, his largest source of NIL pay |
| Panini America | Trading cards | Exclusive multi year deal signed Jan. 31, 2024, his first NIL partnership, covering autographed cards and marketing |
How His Value Climbed
| Point in time | On3 valuation |
|---|---|
| 2024, backup behind Will Howard | About $1.1 million |
| 2025, first year as the starter | About $2.4 million |
| 2026 | $2.5 million |
How It Compares
| Player | School | 2026 On3 valuation |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah Smith, WR (his top target) | Ohio State | $5 million |
| Bryce Underwood, QB | Michigan | $3 million |
| Julian Sayin, QB | Ohio State | $2.5 million |
Why His Number Is Lower Than His Production
Sayin’s 2025 season, including a game winning touchdown against Texas, was one of the most efficient by any quarterback in the country, yet his valuation trails less productive passers. Part of that is Ohio State’s structure: much of his pay runs through The Foundation rather than national brand campaigns, and Smith draws the bigger outside deals. Part is timing, since NIL numbers follow attention, and quarterbacks entering a draft year or changing schools tend to command more.
Deals are from Panini America and On3 reporting; valuations are On3 figures. NIL valuations are estimates, not salaries.
The Bottom Line
Julian Sayin is worth $2.5 million in NIL for 2026, mostly through Ohio State’s Foundation collective and a Panini trading card deal, up from about $1.1 million before he became the starter. See the team picture on Ohio State NIL and his coach’s contract on the Ryan Day salary page.