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Officials make questionable roughing the passer call in favor of Julian Sayin vs. Washington

FaceProfileby: Thomas Goldkamp09/27/25
Julian Sayin by Birm -- Lettermen Row
Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin (Birm/Lettermen Row)

If Washington coach Jedd Fisch was heated in the first quarter, he’s got to be downright apoplectic early in the third quarter. Another controversial call went the way of No. 1 Ohio State.

This time it was a roughing the passer penalty against Ta’iita’i Uiagalelei at the very edge of the red zone that did the trick. The play in question came midway through the third quarter, with Ohio State driving but facing a second-and-20.

Quarterback Julian Sayin dropped to pass and quickly flicked one out to his left, just throwing it out of bounds. Uiagalelei arrived a split-second later.

It appeared the Washington defender tried to pull up. While he made contact with Sayin, he didn’t knock him to the ground and Sayin appeared no worse for the wear. But officials flagged it for roughing the passer anyway. You can view it below.

The penalty reset the down and distance for Ohio State. And the Buckeyes would score just four plays later, with CJ Donaldson rushing in from 1-yard out to extend the lead to 14-3.

Jedd Fisch heated after Washington warned

The officials have been in the spotlight more than once already in the game between Ohio State and Washington. There was a controversial flag against the Huskies in the first quarter that drew the ire of head coach Jedd Fisch.

Fisch was arguing a call with 6:22 to play in the first quarter. He ran out onto the field and was demonstrative toward the officials.

The game was tied 0-0 at the time of the penalty, with Washington looking like it might hold its own against the defending national champion. But Fisch apparently didn’t like the way his team started the game.

Brad Nessler, a CBS broadcaster on the call, pointed out the Jedd Fisch penalty might have been intentional. He likened it to another sport.

“Well sometimes it’s like taking a technical in basketball,” Nessler said. “Maybe this will fire Washington up. It fired their crowd up, I know that.”

Washington would strike first in the game, taking advantage with a late first quarter field goal to go up 3-0. But Ohio State has controlled the game ever since. The score was 14-6 Ohio State with about two minutes left to play in the third quarter at the time of this writing.