For four excruciating years, Michigan’s grip on “The Game” had morphed from rivalry into reign—a smug four-game streak that turned Ohio State into the punchline of its own punch-drunk narrative. Tom Brady, the Wolverine deity turned FOX analyst, fanned the flames pre-kickoff with a smirk: “Is it a rivalry? We’ve won four straight.” By the final whistle Saturday, those words weren’t swagger; they were satire. No. 1 Ohio State didn’t just snap the streak—they demolished No. 15 Michigan 27-9 in the Big House, a 111,373-strong cauldron that cooled to stunned silence as Ryan Day’s Buckeyes (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten) punched their ticket to the conference title game against Indiana. Julian Sayin, the freshman phenom with ice in his veins, carved up the Wolverines’ vaunted defense for 245 yards and three touchdowns, his sideline erupted in long-dormant joy, and Day distilled the vibe into a postgame mic-drop: “Fun is kicking a–.” This wasn’t redemption; it was resurrection. Ohio State finally believed again.
The Brady Bait: From Boast to Backfire
Brady’s barb landed like a pregame haymaker, echoing across X as #IsItARivalry trended with Wolverines reveling in their 2022-25 stranglehold—three one-possession gut jobs and a 2024 thriller that nearly torched Day’s seat. But the Buckeyes, haunted by that postgame brawl in Columbus last year, channeled it. “We heard it all week,” cornerback Davison Igbinosun said, smirking. “Turned it into fuel.” Brady’s crew on “Big Noont Kickoff” pivoted post-loss, with Urban Meyer quipping, “Tom’s got rings—OSU’s got this one now.” X roasted the GOAT: “Brady said ‘rivalry?’ Buckeyes said ‘Requiem,’” one viral post sniped, racking 15K likes. For Michigan (9-3, 7-2), under second-year coach Sherrone Moore, the fall from grace stings deeper: Their first single-digit dud in The Game since 2010, and a measly 163 yards—their lowest output of ’25.
Sayin’s Symphony: Freshman Fire Torches the Tradition
Enter Julian Sayin, Alabama transfer turned Buckeye savior. After a rocky start—two picks on his first three throws, including a gift-wrapped INT to Jyaire Hill—he locked in, hitting 18-of-21 for 245 yards thereafter. His highlights? A 35-yard rope to Jeremiah Smith on 4th-and-5 to snag the lead (10-6), a 4-yard dart to Brandon Inniss for breathing room (17-9 at half), and a 50-yard bomb to Carnell Tate that buried Michigan’s hopes midway through the third. “Kid’s got poise like he’s 25, not 19,” Day beamed. Sayin shrugged: “Just throwing to open guys. We believed.” Michigan’s Bryce Underwood? Overmatched, sacked thrice and held to 163 total yards, his squad settling for three Dominic Zvada field goals (45, 49, and a 30-yarder). A red-zone unsportsmanlike on Jaishawn Barham—nearly headbutting a ref—flipped momentum, gifting OSU a first-and-goal they cashed.
Ohio State’s D, gashed last year, was ferocious: Four sacks, two picks (including Sonny Styles’ strip-sack), and zero Wolverine TDs for the first time since ND’s 31-0 shutout in ’14. The O-line? Dominant, paving 182 rush yards led by CJ Donaldson Jr.’s 78. Day later called it their “A in algebra”—expected excellence, finally delivered.
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