The Ohio State Buckeyes claimed a huge and much-needed win over Michigan on Saturday afternoon in Ann Arbor. The Buckeye defense was rock solid and refused to allow a touchdown, making life difficult for true freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood from start to finish.
Julian Sayin was electric once again, and having his two superstar wide receivers back proved invaluable as both found the end zone as the Buckeyes took control midway through the first half and were the better team throughout.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHere are five takeaways from Ohio State’s monster win over the Wolverines in Ann Arbor, a victory that snapped its four-game losing streak to Michigan.
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day finally got it done
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day waves at fans to celebrate 27-9 win over Michigan at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025.Ohio State head coach Ryan Day finally exorcised his Michigan demons and delivered a huge win over the Wolverines, his first since 2019. Day had faced plenty of scrutiny for falling short against Michigan the last four years, but this time he answered every criticism. He got back in the win column with authority, guiding Ohio State to a convincing 27–9 victory.
Ohio State QB Julian Sayin is back in the Heisman conversation
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) runs the ball pressured by Michigan Wolverines defensive end Cameron Brandt (9) in the first half at Michigan Stadium.Julian Sayin opened the game with an interception, and for a moment, Ohio State fans felt that familiar dread, wondering if Michigan simply had their number again. Sayin put those fears to rest almost immediately. He settled in, controlled the game, and finished 19-of-26 for 233 yards and three touchdowns. His “Heisman moment” came on a 50-yard strike to Carnell Tate that stretched the lead to 24–9 in the third quarter.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWith that performance, Sayin has pushed himself right back into the Heisman race, and next week’s matchup with Indiana may very well determine whether he or Fernando Mendoza walks away with the trophy.
OSU wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate are the keys to this offense
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) catches a touchdown pass in front of Michigan Wolverines defensive back Zeke Berry (10) during the NCAA football game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Nov. 29, 2025.Without Smith and Tate, the Buckeyes were fine but noticeably more one-dimensional. With them back on the field, the offense looked unstoppable. Both the passing game and the ground game clicked as Ohio State dictated the pace all afternoon. Carnell Tate grabbed five passes for 82 yards and a touchdown, while Jeremiah Smith added three catches for 40 yards and another score.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementTheir presence opened everything for Sayin, who looked sharp and fully in command. If Ohio State plans to repeat as national champions, Smith and Tate will need to continue leading the way through the air.
Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia is simply the best
Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia celebrates 27-9 win over Michigan at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025.Michigan started the afternoon by gashing Ohio State with outside zone runs, finding early success on the edges. The Buckeye defense quickly settled in, tightened as a unit, and completely shut Michigan out of the end zone. They figured out how to stop those perimeter runs and smothered the Wolverines in the second half.
Michigan finished with just 24 carries for 100 yards, and once Ohio State’s pressure started hitting home, Bryce Underwood struggled throughout. He threw for only 63 yards on 8 of 18 passing and managed just a single rushing yard on six attempts. Davison Igbinosun added an interception to cap off a dominant defensive effort. It was a true statement game from Matt Patricia and a defense playing at an elite level.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Ohio State ground game popped against a physical opponent
Ohio State running back Bo Jackson (25) runs against Michigan during the first half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025.If there was one lingering critique of the 2025 Ohio State offense, it was the run game, which lacked the standout punch of last year’s Judkins-Henderson duo. Over the past few weeks, though, the ground attack has steadily improved, and on one of the biggest stages of the season, it rose to the challenge. The Buckeyes out-muscled Michigan and controlled the game on the ground from start to finish.
Freshman running back Bo Jackson carried 22 times for 117 yards, and as a team, Ohio State piled up 186 rushing yards on 47 attempts. This was the kind of physical, balanced performance they wanted to show a year ago against Michigan. Thanks to Sayin’s efficiency and command through the air, the run game opened up beautifully and looked exactly as Ohio State envisioned.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State vs. Michigan: 5 things we learned from the Buckeyes win
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