The No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes are set to face off against the No. 15 Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on Saturday.
Here’s a look at the 2025 Ohio State team.
Ohio State’s season so far
- 14-7 win vs. Texas
- 70-0 vs. Grambling State
- 37-9 win vs. Ohio
- 24-6 win at Washington
- 42-3 win vs. Minnesota
- 34-16 win at Illinois
- 34-0 win at Wisconsin
- 38-14 win vs. Penn State
- 34-10 win at Purdue
- 48-10 win vs. UCLA
- 42-9 win vs. Rutgers
- OVERALL RECORD: 11-0
Offensive rankings
- Total Offense: No. 25
- Scoring Offense: No. 11
- Rushing Offense: No. 56
- Passing Offense: No. 26
- Team Passing Efficiency: No. 2
- Completion Percentage: No. 1
- 3rd Down Conversion Pct: No. 2
- Red Zone Offense: No. 31
- First Downs Offense: No. 20
- Time of Possession: No. 6
- Turnover Margin: No. 31
Defensive rankings
- Total defense: No. 1
- Rushing defense: No. 2
- Passing yards allowed: No. 1
- Team passing efficiency defense: No. 6
- Scoring defense: No. 1
- Team sacks: No. 23
- First downs: No. 2
- Passes intercepted: No. 93
- Red zone defense: No. 1
- 3rd down defense: No. 4
- Tackles for loss: No. 37
PFF data
- Overall: No. 1
- Defense: No. 4
- Offense: No. 1
- SOS played: No. 44
- % run plays: 50.5%
- % pass plays: 49.5%
Ohio State’s last loss was to Michigan
Michigan beat Ohio State 13-10 last season,
which must have shaken the Buckeyes to their core, because they haven’t lost since. The Buckeyes went 3-0 in the College Football Playoff last season, culminating in a national championship win over Notre Dame. OSU has now won 14 games in a row.
Two new coordinators
2024 offensive coordinator Chip Kelly went to be the OC of the Las Vegas Raiders and was fired this week. 2024 defensive coordinator Jim Knowles left for Penn State, and the Nittany Lions currently have a 5-6 record. Ohio State promoted receivers coach Brian Hartline to offensive coordinator and hired former New England Patriots defensive coordinator and Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia as DC. While Ohio State is spoiled with great talent on both sides of the ball, Hartline and Patricia have done the most with the talent they have and have met and exceeded high expectations.
A QB1 who’s a Heisman contender
As things currently stand, Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin is still in the thick of the Heisman race. Sayin leads the nation in completion percentage at 79.4 and ranks No. 2 in Total QBR at 90.3. Sayin has thrown for 2,832 yards with 27 touchdowns and four interceptions. Sayin, a redshirt freshman, only attempted 12 career passes heading into the year but has often been phenomenal during his first season as Ohio State’s QB1.
Running backs who can do damage
- Freshman running back Bo Jackson has rushed for 835 yards with five touchdowns on 6.5 yards per carry.
- CJ Donaldson has rushed for 286 yards on just 3.8 yards per carry but has been effective punching it into the end zone, scoring 10 touchdowns this season.
Elite wideouts
It doesn’t matter what year, Ohio State always has good receivers, and this year is no exception. Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate both didn’t play last week, but Ryan Day said both are trending in the right direction ahead of Saturday. Smith ahs 69 receptions for 902 yards with 10 touchdowns while Tate has 39 grabs for 711 yards and seven touchdowns. No other OSU player has more than two receiving touchdowns.
Key injury on defense
The status of nickelback Lorenzo Styles Jr. is up in the air after getting hurt against Rutgers.
Key players on defense
- Linebacker Sonny Styles leads OSU with 63 tackles (35 solo) and has one interception and one forced fumble.
- Linebacker Arvell Reese has 59 tackles (30 solo) and 6.5 sacks.
- Defensive end Caden Curry has 49 tackles (30 solo), nine sacks and a forced fumble.
- Caleb Downs is one of the best safeties in the nation and has 49 tackles (32 solo) and two interceptions.
- Defensive lineman Kayden McDonald is a run stuffer and has 47 tackles (25 solo) with three sacks and two forced fumbles.
