Entering the 2025 season, the Ohio State Buckeyes and head coach Ryan Day laid out a clear three-part checklist for the year. At the top of that list was beating their rival, the Michigan Wolverines, followed by winning the Big Ten championship and ultimately bringing home another national title.
On Saturday, the Buckeyes officially checked off the first item on the list, delivering a dominant 27–9 road victory over the Wolverines. The win signals the true beginning of Ohio State’s postseason push, with two major goals still in front of them.
Here are three takeaways from the Buckeyes’ commanding performance.
Entering the matchup, there was still doubt about Ohio State’s run game. Many questioned whether the Buckeyes could run the ball against a quality defense, especially one that had controlled them in recent years.
Freshman standout Bo Jackson silenced those concerns on Saturday. He rushed 22 times for 117 yards and added four receptions for 49 more, giving Michigan problems all afternoon.
Jackson averaged 5.3 yards per carry and pushed his season total to 952 yards on 151 attempts. He has been a steady force all year, but this performance announced his presence to the entire country.
The Buckeyes will need a strong run game for their postseason push, as it adds another layer for defenses to handle alongside the passing attack. With Jackson being only a freshman, the rest of the nation will be dealing with him for years to come.
Ohio State’s defense has been dominant all season, and that dominance continued on Saturday. Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia has completely reshaped the unit, positioning the Buckeyes to finish as one of the best defenses of the decade.
Ohio State allowed only nine points to Michigan, bringing their season total to just 92. That’s an astounding 7.7 points per game across a full 12-game schedule. The last time we saw a defense have this level of dominance was the 2021 Georgia Bulldogs, who rode that power to a national title.
Patricia has crafted impressive game plans every week, and the talent he has at his disposal has executed them at an elite level. On Saturday, the defense held Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood to just 8-of-18 passing for 68 yards and an interception. They also shut down the Wolverines’ rushing attack, allowing negative eight yards in the second half.
What makes Ohio State’s domination even more remarkable is that the team lost eight defensive starters to the NFL Draft last year. Despite that turnover, the unit has taken an even bigger step forward, now featuring four projected first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft and several other future pros.
The Buckeyes entered the 2025 season boasting the best wide receiver corps in college football. After 12 weeks of play, that hasn’t changed.
Ohio State receivers Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith returned to the lineup for The Game and delivered in a big way. Tate finished with five catches for 82 yards and a touchdown, including a 50-yard, game-clinching strike in the third quarter.
Smith, meanwhile, caught three passes for 40 yards and a score, highlighted by a clutch 35-yard touchdown on a critical fourth down in the second quarter.
The third receiver and team captain, Brandon Inniss, also found the end zone just before halftime, keeping the Buckeyes’ offense rolling.
After an early interception on the team’s second offensive snap, quarterback Julian Sayin settled in and played like a true veteran. He finished 19-of-26 for 233 yards and three touchdown passes.
Sayin enters championship weekend firmly in the Heisman conversation, backed by a dynamic group of weapons at his disposal. With that combination, Ohio State’s passing attack will be a nightmare for any defense in the postseason.
Ryan Day finally conquered his Michigan demon on Saturday, solidifying his reputation as a coach who can overcome any challenge. With that hurdle cleared, the Buckeyes can now turn their focus to Saturday’s Big Ten Championship matchup against the Indiana Hoosiers in Indianapolis.
After that, the College Football Playoff awaits, putting another national title within reach. Ohio State will aim to become the first team to repeat as champions since Georgia accomplished the feat in 2021 and 2022.
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