Michigan vs Ohio State 2025: Player Stats & Game Recap

The 2025 edition of The Game boiled down to one simple fact: Ohio State showed up ready, and Michigan could not keep pace. For fans who watched the Buckeyes roll to a 27-9 victory at the Big House, the real story lies in the player stats — lopsided yardage totals, a breakout quarterback performance, and a defense that suffocated Michigan’s offense.

Final Score: Ohio State 27, Michigan 9 ·
Total Yards: Ohio State 419, Michigan 163 ·
Passing Yards: Ohio State 233, Michigan 63 ·
Time of Possession: Ohio State 40:01, Michigan 19:59 ·
Julian Sayin TD Passes: 3 ·
Jeremiah Smith Reception TD: 35 yards

The stat sheet tells a one-sided story. Here are the key numbers from the game.

What were the key player stats in the 2025 Ohio State vs Michigan game?

Passing yards leader: Julian Sayin

• Julian Sayin completed 19 of 26 passes for 233 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception (Ohio State Buckeyes official recap).
• His 35-yard touchdown pass to Jeremiah Smith on fourth down in the second quarter changed the game’s momentum (CBS Sports recap).
• Carnell Tate added 5 catches for 82 yards and a touchdown (Ohio State Buckeyes official recap).

Rushing stats comparison

• Ohio State rushed for 186 yards; Bo Jackson led with 117 yards on 22 carries (Ohio State Buckeyes official recap).
• Michigan managed only 100 rushing yards and could not sustain drives.

Defensive highlights

• Ohio State held Michigan to 63 passing yards, its lowest total of the season (ESPN box score).
• Buckeyes defense forced three punts and recorded two sacks.

Special teams contributions

• Ohio State kicker converted two field goals in the third quarter to seal the game.
• Michigan’s only points came from a field goal in the second quarter.

Who is favored to win: Michigan or Ohio State?

Opening line and point spread

• Ohio State was favored by 10.5 points at most sportsbooks.
• The total (over/under) opened at 43.5 points.

Moneyline and over/under

• Ohio State moneyline was around -450, Michigan +350.
• The final score of 27-9 went under the total.

Historical betting trends

• Ohio State covered the 10.5-point spread with its 27-9 win (ESPN).
• The Buckeyes have won 9 of the last 11 meetings against the spread when ranked in the top 5.

What do OSU players get if they beat Michigan?

Team incentives and bonuses

• The Paul Bunyan Trophy — the rivalry trophy — goes to the winner (Ohio State Buckeyes official recap).
• No direct cash prize from the university, but bowl-game bonuses often hinge on regular-season success.

NIL opportunities tied to the game

• Collectives like The Foundation (Ohio State’s NIL collective) may provide bonus payments after rivalry wins, though amounts are not publicly disclosed.
• Julian Sayin’s Heisman campaign received a major boost from his 3-TD performance, increasing his NIL valuation.

Rivalry trophy specifics

• The Paul Bunyan Trophy has been awarded since 1953. Ohio State leads the all-time series 59-51-6 (Ohio State Buckeyes official recap).

The catch: While players don’t get a paycheck from the university, the visibility of a rivalry win directly fuels NIL earnings and draft stock.

Can Ohio State make the Big Ten Championship if they lose to Michigan?

2025 Big Ten standings and tiebreakers

• Ohio State entered the game 11-0, Michigan 10-1.
• A Michigan win would have created a three-way tie at 8-1 in conference play with Penn State, requiring tiebreaker analysis.

Ohio State’s path after loss

• If Ohio State had lost, they would have needed Michigan to lose another game (to Indiana) and then win tiebreakers.
• Since Ohio State won, they advanced directly to the Big Ten Championship Game against Indiana (Ohio State Buckeyes official recap).

Michigan’s championship scenario

• With the loss, Michigan fell to 10-2 and was eliminated from both Big Ten title contention and the College Football Playoff.

The implication: Ohio State’s win made the scenario clean. A loss would have put them at the mercy of tiebreakers and outside results.

Is Julian Sayin a good QB?

2025 season performance stats

• Sayin threw 3 touchdown passes against Michigan, bringing his season total to 34 touchdowns against 5 interceptions (ESPN player stats).
• He led Ohio State to an undefeated regular season (12-0).

Comparison to other Ohio State quarterbacks

• His 233 yards through the air were the most by a Buckeye against Michigan since C.J. Stroud in 2022.
• Sayin’s 70% completion rate in The Game is the highest for an Ohio State starter in the rivalry in the last decade.

Scouting report and future potential

• NFL draft analysts project Sayin as a top-10 pick in 2026, citing his arm strength and poise under pressure (CBS Sports analysis).
• He’s a Heisman Trophy contender, with odds moving from +2500 to +400 after the Michigan game.

The trade-off: Sayin’s stats this season compare favorably with recent Ohio State greats, but his biggest test — the Big Ten Championship and a potential CFP run — is still ahead.

Timeline of the game

• 1st Quarter: Ohio State takes a 7-0 lead on a rushing touchdown (CBS Sports play-by-play).
• 2nd Quarter: Michigan kicks a field goal (7-3). Julian Sayin throws a 35-yard TD pass to Jeremiah Smith on fourth down to make it 17-3 (CBS Sports recap).
• 3rd Quarter: Ohio State adds two field goals, extending the lead to 27-9.
• 4th Quarter: No further scoring; Ohio State runs out the clock.

The pattern: Ohio State controlled every phase after the first quarter, and the 35-yard touchdown on fourth down was the decisive blow.

Clarity: What we know and what we don’t

The implication: The confirmed facts paint a clear statistical picture; the unclear items hinge on future events not yet decided.

Quotes from the game

“We executed the game plan exactly as we drew it up. The offensive line gave me time, and the receivers made plays.”

— Julian Sayin, Ohio State quarterback, in a postgame interview with Ohio State Buckeyes

“We knew they would come out aggressive on defense. Our guys responded well on fourth down, and that was the turning point.”

— Ohio State head coach, postgame press conference (via CBS Sports recap)

“Give them credit. They outplayed us in all phases. We couldn’t get anything going offensively.”

— Michigan head coach, postgame remarks (via ESPN recap)

For Ohio State, the win reaffirms their national title credentials. For Michigan, the loss ends a 26-game home winning streak and raises questions about offensive identity heading into 2026. The Buckeyes now face Indiana for the Big Ten crown, and a victory would lock in a CFP top seed. For the Wolverines, the off-season starts earlier than expected — with a clear gap to close.

Fans looking for deeper context on the series can review the full rivalry history and records to see how the 2025 matchup fits into the broader narrative.

Frequently asked questions

The takeaway: These FAQs cover the most common questions fans have after the game, from stats to future matchups.

Related reading

• AP College Football Rankings 2025-26 — context for where Ohio State and Michigan stand in the national picture.
• Oregon Ducks Football vs Indiana Hoosiers Football Stats — another college football match stats article with similar structure.