ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin read the coverage against star receiver Jeremiah Smith wrong on his second pass attempt against Michigan.
Cornerback Jyaire Hill jumped the route for an interception – and with that – briefly triggered nightmarish memories of the last four years in The Game – including the 13-10 upset at Ohio Stadium on Nov. 30, 2024. Sayin, a Carlsbad, Calif., native, could have fallen into that cold-weather booby trap as the snow slowly powdered Michigan Stadium on Saturday. He had a message for teammates on the sideline instead.
"We put our defense in a really bad spot with that interception and they ended up forcing three," Sayin said afterward. "I think it was just, 'No panic.'"
Sayin – who finished 19 of 26 passing for 233 yards, three TDs and that one interception – did what he's done all season for No. 1 Ohio State in a 27-9 victory against No. 15 Michigan. The Buckeyes (12-0, 9-0) ended that four-game losing streak to the Wolverines (9-3, 7-2). OhIo State coach Ryan Day, who trusted his five-star quarterback in the most-important game of the regular season, silenced any remaining critics.
Now, a new question emerges after Ohio State restored its hold on the rivalry: "When will Michigan do the same with its five-star quarterback?"
The heat coming into the matchup focused on Day, whose man-ball approach led directly to last year's upset. Now, that falls on Michigan coach Sherrone Moore – who can no longer lean on the remnants of the Jim Harbaugh era in Ann Arbor.
Day played to his strengths on offense. Sayin – whose Heisman Trophy campaign runs on accuracy and efficiency – looked the part with the return of Smith and Carnell Tate; receivers who were nursing nagging November injuries. It's not just about vindication for Day. It's a warning that The Game could tilt back in the Buckeyes' favor – which has been the case for most of the 21st century.
Ohio State now has won 16 straight games and is barreling toward a second straight national championship. The Michigan problem is no more.
"There is no question with the fans and all of our supporters, what this means, means a lot to us," Day said. "That's what hurt the last couple of years more than anything. You could see it in my face the last couple years. You just feel like you're letting everyone down. That's not a good feeling."
Julian Sayin TD pass to Jeremiah Smith swings The Game
The Wolverines led 6-3 after the first quarter, one in which the Buckeyes had to settle for a 24-yard field goal by Jayden Fielding at the 4:33 mark after Ohio State could not score after six plays from the 2-yard line.
All that changed with one aggressive call. Ohio State elected to go for it on fourth-and-5 from the Michigan 35-yard line. Smith shook cornerback Zeke Berry on a double move and beat Brandyn Hillman into the end zone for a 35-yard TD and a 10-6 lead with 11:44 left in the first half. Day made the call despite limited reps from Smith in practice this week.
"The throw that Julian made on that ball was tremendous, but that was a play we had walked through if the right situation called for it — the right moment — you just never know what type of situation you're going to get in games," Day said. "You have to have a lot of options."
Sayin threw a second TD with 16 seconds left in the half to Brandon Inniss. Ohio State led 17-9 at halftime. Sayin was 6 of 6 for 68 yards and two TDs on third and fourth down in the first half.
MORE: Julian Sayin lights up Wolverines after early interception
Sayin added a 50-yard TD pass to Tate with 7:35 left in the third quarter to extend that lead to 24-9. That squashed any thought of another upset. By that time, Sayin was having a different conversation on the sidelines.
"It was funny — around the second or third quarter — I was looking all around and seeing all the snow coming down," Sayin said. "I think I told some teammates, 'This is pretty cool. This is pretty fun."
On a TV timeout with 5:08 left in the third quarter, Brutus Buckeye drew a "Script Ohio" with his feet in the snow. Freshman Bo Jackson, who had 22 carries for 117 yards, helped the Buckeyes win the rushing battle 186-100, and Ohio State's defense did not allow a touchdown. Michigan had zero sacks.
It was the best of both worlds. The Buckeyes won up front and on the scoreboard.
All this sets up a Big Ten championship game against No. 2 Indiana (12-0, 9-0), which features a Heisman Trophy candidate in Fernando Mendoza who plays with the same qualities. That game will be much more competitive than The Game.
Which swings the pressure back to Michigan.
MORE: Full schedule of all conference championship games
Bryce Underwood, Michigan offense at a crossroads
Underwood was hyped after the pre-game entrances. He hopped down the sideline, shaking his head and gassing up teammates.
Then the five-star freshman quarterback attempted just five passes in the first half. Michigan running back Jordan Marshall played through injuries, but the loss exposed the gap in perimeter playmakers between the Wolverines and Buckeyes. Michigan cannot simply ground-and-pound to beat Ohio State now, and that will be the challenge for Moore.
Underwood did not complete a pass of 20 yards or more until he hit a 26-yard seam route to Donaven McCulley with 10:07 left in the third quarter. The Buckeyes have a fleet of five-star receivers – and last year's loss masked the fact that the Wolverines do not have the passing attack necessary to let Underwood cook in any weather, let alone in the snow. Losses to No. 8 Oklahoma, No. 7 USC and No. 1 Ohio State showed they cannot wait until trailing by double digits in the second half to try it.
Underwood finished 8 of 18 for 63 yards and an interception against a defense led by Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia.
"Coverage-wise they did some things to re-route the receivers," Moore said. "We just didn't get a rhythm. We didn't protect well enough to get the guys open. It's a team effort. There's no blame."
That means Moore and offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey need to work the portal for receivers and re-think the program's offensive philosophy around Underwood for the next two years – because Day, Sayin and Smith will be back one more time in 2026, and the Ohio State machine is still very operational.
The good times from the Harbaugh era are over. Michigan will not make the 12-team College Football Playoff for the second straight season, and the troll card has been revoked for 364 days. Where do the Wolverines go from here with Underwood?
"I just want him to feel the feeling that he feels right now," Moore said. "That's the biggest thing. That will motivate him enough to be as good as he can be."
Ryan Day gets redemption against Michigan
The Buckeyes buried the Wolverines with a 20-play, 81-yard drive that split the third and fourth quarters, which led to the much-anticipated post-game theatrics. Michigan players guarded the "M" at midfield. There was not a flag planting this year, mainly because Day discouraged it.
"I've thought as you can imagine over the years after winning this game what I'd say in this press conference," Day said. "I'm going to save all those comments because I think the best thing to do is win with humility and that's what we're going to do."
Maybe that is because Ohio State is above all that. There is Indiana next week, then another run through the College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes have a legitimate chance for back-to-back national championships, which would be another separator for Day.
Sayin also is the main separator in this run. Ohio State defensive end Caden Curry was asked whether Sayin should be the Heisman Trophy front-runner, and his response was spot on.
"Well, duh," Curry said. "He's just such a great player. Such a smart player. He knows how to win, and I feel like there's not much more. You have just got to continue to do it."