Julian Sayin delivered the rebound Ryan Day had chased for 2,191 days.
Sayin threw three touchdown passes, and No. 1 Ohio State dominated in a 27-9 win over No. 15 Michigan on Saturday, seizing back control of “The Game” and all but locking up the Buckeyes’ path to a first-round bye and maybe the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.
Sayin’s signature moment came in the second quarter on fourth down, when he threaded a 35-yard strike to Jeremiah Smith for a touchdown that gave Ohio State its first lead. Smith appeared to bobble the ball as he crossed the goal line. The play stood, and Ohio State led for good.
The Buckeyes (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten, No. 1 CFP) quickly flipped momentum after an interception on Sayin’s second snap. The redshirt freshman steadied, exploiting clean pockets and uncovered zones Michigan could not disrupt.
His 4-yard TD to Brandon Inniss with 16 seconds left in the half made it 17-9 entering the break. He finished 19 of 26 for 233 yards, marking his sixth game with at least three TD passes.
Carnell Tate’s 50-yard TD in the third quarter, on a lofted Sayin ball over his shoulder, put Michigan away.
Michigan (9-3, 7-2 Big Ten) opened with consecutive field goals and an early interception, but applied very little pressure and ran for just 100 yards on 24 carries against the nation’s top defense. Quarterback Bryce Underwood, last year’s top recruit, went 8-of-13 for 63 yards and threw a late interception.
Day improved to 2-4 in the rivalry, quieting critics as emphatically as his team’s defense had smothered doubts on the field.
