Ted Carter Angrily Speaks Out to Defend Ohio State Players and Julian Sayin After the Team Continuously Received Threatening Messages Following the Loss to the Miami Hurricanes: “I Hope You Know When to Stop Because You Don’t Understand How Much Pressure These College Athletes Are Under, So I Hope This Stops Here.” But It Didn’t End There as He Issued a Statement Defending His Players Like a Father, Leaving the Entire NCAA World Stunned!!
In the wake of a shocking upset in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on December 31, 2025, where the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes defeated the defending national champion No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes 24-14, the fallout extended far beyond the field.
The loss ended Ohio State’s dreams of repeating as College Football Playoff champions, but what followed was a wave of toxic fan behavior that prompted a fierce response from university president Walter “Ted” Carter Jr.
Carter’s passionate defense of his players, particularly young quarterback Julian Sayin, highlighted the growing crisis of player safety in the era of social media and high-stakes college football.
The game itself was a defensive battle turned offensive struggle for the Buckeyes.
Ohio State, heavily favored by 9.5 points, fell behind early after a pivotal pick-six by Miami’s Keionte Scott in the second quarter, turning a screen pass from Sayin into a 72-yard touchdown return that gave the Hurricanes a 14-0 lead.
Sayin, the Heisman finalist and one of the most accurate quarterbacks in FBS history with a completion percentage leading the nation, finished with 287 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions on 22-of-35 passing.
He was sacked five times, matching the pressure he faced in the Big Ten Championship loss to Indiana. Miami’s relentless pass rush, led by stars like Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, disrupted the Buckeyes’ rhythm, holding them to their lowest scoring output of the season.
Head coach Ryan Day, in the postgame press conference alongside Sayin and safety Caleb Downs, praised his quarterback’s resilience while acknowledging the inexperience factor. “Julian has a chance to be as good as he wants to be,” Day said.
“This is his first year really playing, and he’s got to learn from this.” Sayin himself took accountability, noting moments where he held the ball too long or made poor decisions under pressure. “It starts with me,” he admitted. “We have to be better on offense.”
But the real story emerged in the days following the defeat. As reports surfaced of Buckeyes players, including Sayin, receiving threatening messages on social media, the vitriol from disappointed fans crossed a dangerous line.
In college football’s hyper-intense environment, where young athletes—many still teenagers or in their early 20s—face immense scrutiny, such harassment has become alarmingly common.
Sayin, a sophomore transfer who had led Ohio State to a dominant regular season with over 3,600 passing yards and 32 touchdowns, became a primary target for blame over the pick-six and overall offensive struggles.
Enter Ted Carter, the Ohio State president who has made player welfare a priority since taking office in 2024. Known for his military background and straightforward leadership style, Carter did not mince words when addressing the threats.
In a public statement and interviews, he angrily called out the anonymous harassers: “I hope you know when to stop because you don’t understand how much pressure these college athletes are under, so I hope this stops here.”
Carter’s outburst was not just administrative rhetoric; it was paternal. He spoke of the players as “our kids,” emphasizing the mental and emotional toll of playing under national spotlight. “These are student-athletes giving everything for this university,” he said.
“They’re under enormous pressure—from academics, from performance expectations, from the weight of representing millions of fans. Sending threats? That’s not fandom; that’s cowardice.” Carter urged fans to reflect on their actions, reminding them that behind the jerseys are young men navigating life-altering challenges.
What truly stunned the NCAA community was the follow-up statement Carter released through the university’s official channels. Framing his defense “like a father,” he detailed the university’s commitment to player safety, including enhanced monitoring of social media threats, partnerships with law enforcement for credible dangers, and expanded mental health resources.
He called on the NCAA to implement league-wide protocols for protecting athletes from online abuse, including potential bans on anonymous accounts targeting players and mandatory education for fans on responsible support.
The reaction across college sports was immediate and profound. NCAA officials, already grappling with issues like NIL, revenue sharing, and mental health amid the evolving landscape post-House v. NCAA settlement, were caught off guard by Carter’s bold stance.
Sources within the organization described it as a “wake-up call,” with one anonymous administrator noting, “Presidents usually stay above the fray, but Carter went full protective mode. It forces us to confront how toxic this has become.”
Coaches and players from rival programs expressed solidarity. Miami head coach Mario Cristobal, whose team pulled off the upset, praised Carter’s words: “Football is intense, but threats have no place. Respect to President Carter for standing up.” Even neutral observers in the media hailed it as a pivotal moment.
ESPN analysts discussed how Carter’s intervention could spark broader reforms, similar to how player safety concerns revolutionized concussion protocols a decade ago.
The incident also shone a light on Julian Sayin specifically. As a redshirt sophomore thrust into the starting role after transferring from Alabama, Sayin had dazzled with record-breaking accuracy and poise. His season stats—77% completion rate, 177.5 passer rating—placed him among the elites.
Yet, one bad game unleashed a torrent of abuse. Carter singled out the targeting of Sayin, saying, “Julian is a tremendous young man who’s poured his heart into this program. Blaming him alone for a team loss and threatening him? Unacceptable.”
Broader implications rippled through the sport. With college athletes now professionals in many ways—earning through NIL deals worth millions in some cases—the line between fan passion and harassment blurs further. Carter’s statement referenced the “unprecedented pressure” from social media, where algorithms amplify negativity and anonymity emboldens trolls.
He advocated for NCAA guidelines requiring universities to report threats and for platforms like X and Instagram to prioritize athlete protection.
Within Ohio State, Carter’s actions bolstered morale. Players reportedly appreciated the public support, with anonymous sources saying it felt like having a “dad in the fight.” Coach Day echoed this in follow-ups: “President Carter gets it. These kids need protection as much as they need coaching.”
As the dust settles on the 2025 season, Carter’s fiery defense stands as a defining moment. It stunned the NCAA not because it was controversial, but because it was overdue.
In an era where college football generates billions yet leaves young athletes vulnerable to unchecked rage, one president’s paternal outrage may catalyze change.
Whether it leads to tangible reforms remains to be seen, but Ted Carter has ensured the conversation about player safety—and the human cost of fandom—will not stop here.
