Julian Sayin: Ohio State keeping Michigan 'in the back of our minds' as 2025 season begins

Ohio State has lost four consecutive meetings against Michigan. Nonetheless, in an interview with On3’s Zak Herbstreit, Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin said the team isn’t too concerned about “the team up north” this early in the year.

“We’re focused on the first game,” Sayin said when asked about Ohio State’s rivalry with Michigan. “We definitely have that game in the back of our minds but we’re focused on the first game and taking it one week at a time right now.”

In fairness, Ohio State doesn’t have room to think about much else. In their season-opener, the Buckeyes are squaring off against the Texas Longhorns, who will enter the 2025 campaign as one of the top teams in the country.

Alas, it’ll be difficult for the Buckeyes to completely push Michigan out of their minds. The Wolverines put a sour taste in Ohio State’s mouth last season, stunning the Buckeyes in a 13-10 upset victory.

Michigan had a down year last season and entered the game as a substantial underdog. However, in spite of a lack of a passing game, the Wolverines defeated the Buckeyes on their own home turf.

Michigan looked to add insult to injury after the game, attempting to plant a Wolverines flag in the middle of OSU’s field. Naturally, the Buckeyes took exception and a massive brawl ensued.

Ohio State carried that fire into the postseason, steamrolling its opponents en route to the program’s first national title since 2014. While Ohio State could happily celebrate its success this offseason, it also couldn’t deny it had lost in “The Game” once again.

Julian Sayin will look to put an end to Michigan’s win streak over the Buckeyes this year. Sayin is in the hunt for OSU’s starting quarterback spot. He is competing with Lincoln Kienholz.

Both Sayin and Kienholz lack collegiate experience, and must outshine each other on the preseason practice field to earn the starting nod. Last week, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day revealed what he’s looking for from the two competing QBs.

“You want command of that offense. When you stand in there as a quarterback, you want everybody in that hall to believe in you,” Day said. “You want them to follow your command. That’s a three-part, and then taking care of the football, making routine plays, routinely getting us into the right play.

“… We have good pieces around them, and they just need to lead the team, have your man and make great decisions and compete. If they do that and move the team down the field to score touchdowns, then they’re going to give us a chance to win.”