“Has Ryan Day learned his lesson from last year?” Of the many questions heading into The Game, by far the biggest game in either the Buckeye or Wolverine states, the question that was repeated ad nauseam was whether Day learned from last year’s disastrous home loss to Michigan. It started off rough, and the old Day may have pivoted his game plan. However, he and the Buckeyes stuck with doing what works for them. As a result, Ohio State finally beats Michigan…and wins the rushing battle!
The whole “the team that wins the rushing battle wins The Game” trope has been held over Ohio State’s head for years. Yeah, if you play a fairly balanced game, you end up running the ball more than your opponent. As it is, the Buckeyes played their game and overwhelmed Michigan, effectively ending any long-shot hope Michigan had to spoil the College Football Playoff.
Oh, how sweet it is.
Ohio State Finally Beats Michigan
Play Your Game
We will get to the defense later. Realistically, the best defense in football warrants its own article, but this will be a pared-down approach.
The Day and Brian Hartline-led offense knew what it had to do to win: strike early. It was obvious that trying to get chunk plays was the goal against a Michigan defense that was a bit weaker against a prolific passing attack. The first play from scrimmage was a perfect downfield shot to Carnell Tate that warranted an incredible defensive effort from Michigan to break up. Then, Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith were not on the same page, resulting in an ugly interception.
The fanbase pleaded with Day not to chicken out of the passing attack and keep it up. As a result, the Buckeyes kept it up. After that 0-for-2 start, Sayin completed 19-of-24 for 233 yards and three touchdowns. Needless to say, the California kid was not rattled.
Sayin kept taking downfield shots when the defense allowed it. On fourth down, he found Smith wide open after a nasty double move for the game’s first touchdown. On the next drive, Ohio State went up 17-9 thanks to a third-down touchdown to Brandon Inniss. Then, after an inexplicable punt in Michigan territory on the first drive of the second half, the offense got the ball back. As a result, Tate shook off his man as the snow began to fall and was wide open for a 50-yard touchdown.
Ohio State knew it had to air it out and take advantage of the talent disparity and get away from Michigan’s strength. It did so beautifully.
Then Bully Ball
With the game seemingly in hand, the game plan flipped. As the third quarter wound down with a multi-score lead, the Buckeyes began to run the ball.
That was an all time drive by Ohio State!
20 plays
81 yards
12 minutesPunishing work by the Buckeyes
— Blake T. Biscardi (@BlakeBiscardi) November 29, 2025
To start this game, the run game was mostly ineffective. Bo Jackson was finding holes through the Michigan defensive line, but CJ Donaldson and Sayin were not able to punch it in from one yard out. Regardless, Jackson was a star in this one. He carried the ball 22 times for 117 yards. Isaiah West came in for the two final drives and added 20 yards on six carries.
On the day, the Buckeyes averaged four yards per carry. Oh, and they won the rushing battle, 186 to 100.
Not a bad effort from Tyler Bowen’s offensive line. For good measure, Sayin was not sacked.
A Triumphant Return
When Ohio State hired Matt Patricia, there was an audible laugh coming from the North. Patricia infamously flamed out as the head coach of the Detroit Lions, and there is a considerable overlap between Michigan and Lions fans, naturally. Despite that, Patricia’s defense has been one of, if not the best, defense in the nation all year. That continued on Saturday in the snow.
Michigan finished with just 100 yards on the ground despite how good that part of its offense has been this year. A considerable amount of that total came off a couple of decent plays. However, as we noted in the lead-up to this game, Michigan is not built to come from behind. Bryce Underwood is not an effective thrower, and the Ohio State secondary made life incredibly difficult. Michigan’s star freshman receiver, Andrew Marsh, didn’t register a single catch.
The front seven for the Buckeyes legitimately dominated this game. Kayden McDonald was unmovable in the interior. Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles played the best games of their careers. Caden Curry and Kenyatta Jackson Jr. sped up Underwood’s already-sped-up internal clock.
To hammer that point home, Michigan was held to negative eight yards rushing in the second half.
Underwood only managed 63 yards passing on the day.
Once the Buckeyes smelled blood in the water, it was over for the Wolverines. Ohio State showed that hiring Patricia as its defensive coordinator was the right call.
Next Up
Ohio State finally beats Michigan and does so in dominant fashion. It was the first win since 2019. Day didn’t crack a smile until the final whistle as the O-H-I-O chant circled him at the Big House.
Now, the focus turns to Indiana.
It’ll be a battle of 12-0 teams in Indianapolis, and we will have all of your coverage leading up to the battle of the top two-ranked teams here at Last Word on College Football.
As for now, Ohio State exhales. Order has been restored.
Main Image: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
