Ohio State didn’t just show up on the Big Ten awards sheet — it practically took it over. With 19 Buckeyes earning first-, second- or third-team All-Big Ten recognition and five players winning individual awards, the postseason honors read like a roster check for a College Football Playoff contender.

Even so, the biggest talking point wasn’t who Ohio State celebrated, but who the conference’s voters left out.

Freshman quarterback Julian Sayin put together one of the most efficient regular seasons in college football history, breaking the NCAA single-season completion percentage record with a remarkable 78.9% while throwing for 3,065 yards and 30 touchdowns with just five interceptions.

He matched Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza in yards per attempt and turnovers, yet it was Mendoza — not Sayin — who walked away with both Big Ten Quarterback of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year honors.

Sayin instead took home Big Ten Freshman of the Year and was named second-team All-Big Ten by both coaches and media. For a player already viewed as one of the best quarterbacks in the nation, the snub will not be forgotten quickly and will likely become motivational fuel as Ohio State heads into championship weekend.

There were no such surprises at wide receiver, where Jeremiah Smith repeated as Big Ten Receiver of the Year after a dominant campaign with 72 receptions for 942 yards and 11 touchdowns. Smith’s presence opened the door for Carnell Tate to deliver a breakout season of his own, finishing with 793 yards and eight touchdowns in just nine games. Both Tate and tight end Max Klare joined Smith as first-team All-Big Ten selections, reflecting an Ohio State passing attack that was nearly impossible to slow down all season long.

Defensively, Ohio State produced another avalanche of postseason hardware. Caleb Downs earned both Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Back of the Year honors after anchoring one of the nation’s stingiest units.

Kayden McDonald was named Defensive Lineman of the Year, and Arvell Reese took home Linebacker of the Year, giving the Buckeyes a sweep of the conference’s major defensive categories. Sonny Styles, Caden Curry and Davison Igbinosun also received first- or second-team recognition as the Buckeye defense continued to assert itself as one of the deepest in the country.

Perhaps most impressive was the praise heaped upon Ohio State’s offensive line. All five starters earned All-Big Ten honors, a reflection of a unit that surrendered only six sacks — second-fewest nationally — while paving the way for a 4.8-yard team rushing average.

Freshman running back Bo Jackson, who emerged late in the season as Ohio State’s lead back, was rewarded with second- and third-team honors after finishing with 953 yards on just 151 carries.

Tight end Will Kacmarek was among the additional players recognized for his blocking contributions, rounding out a long list of Buckeyes who helped shape one of the most complete teams in the country.

The Big Ten may have handed out the awards, but Ohio State made the statement: this is the deepest, most decorated roster in the conference, and the few snubs that appeared may only make the Buckeyes more dangerous as they head toward the postseason.