Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin said losing to Michigan is an experience no Buckeye wants, one that quickly becomes central to life in the program.
In a recent interview with On3’s Andy Staples and Ari Wasserman, the rising star reflected on the emotional weight of college football’s fiercest rivalry.
Sayin watched from the sideline as a true freshman in 2024 when Ohio State fell 13-10 at home to the Wolverines, ending a painful stretch of four consecutive losses in the series.
One year later, as the starting quarterback, he helped the Buckeyes snap that streak with a dominant 27-9 victory in Ann Arbor on Nov. 29, 2025.
“It’s definitely not a good feeling,” Sayin said of the 2024 defeat. “I was fortunate enough to be on that team and watch that leadership, and those players rally back, and end up winning the national championship that year. But it’s definitely not a feeling that you ever want to go through.”
He added that the rivalry’s significance sinks in almost immediately upon arrival in Columbus.
“You learn very quickly when you get here,” Sayin said. “You learn the history of that game. You learn how important it is to this state and to this fan base. And it becomes your livelihood.”
That perspective now shapes his approach heading into the 2026 season, when Michigan will visit Ohio Stadium.Sayin completed 19 of 26 passes for 233 yards and three touchdowns with one interception in the snowy 2025 win, overcoming an early pick to guide Ohio State to its first victory over the Wolverines since 2019.
In his first full season as starter last year, the Carlsbad, California, product completed 301 of 391 passes for 3,610 yards, 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions. His 77% completion rate led the nation, and his 177.45 passer rating ranked among the best in the country.
The Buckeyes finished the 2025 regular season 12-0 before a College Football Playoff exit. Sayin earned Big Ten freshman of the year honors and was a Heisman Trophy finalist.
Michigan still holds a narrow edge in the all-time series at 62-53-6, though Ohio State has won 18 of the past 25 meetings. The Wolverines’ four-game winning streak from 2021 to 2024 remains the program’s most recent sustained success in the rivalry.
Sayin, who transferred to Ohio State from Alabama, has made clear the priorities for 2026.
“We definitely have goals,” he said. “We want to beat the team up north. We want to win the Big Ten championship. We want to win the national championship. So it’s always those goals at Ohio State.”
Head coach Ryan Day has emphasized treating Michigan week like any other in preparation, while recognizing the game’s unique stakes once kickoff arrives. That approach paid off last season amid difficult conditions and intense pressure.
Sayin enters the new campaign with a loaded supporting cast and the experience of having already delivered a signature rivalry win. At 1-0 as a starter against Michigan, he has no interest in discovering what a loss feels like from the field.
The Game remains the measuring stick in both programs, dictating moods across two states and defining seasons for players and fans alike. For Sayin and the Buckeyes, the next chapter arrives in Columbus this fall with the same unyielding focus.
