By Anne EricksonShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberThe Michigan Wolverines face the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday in what's going to be one of the most watched college football games of the regular season.
This year, Ohio State arrives undefeated and ranked No. 1 with a top‑tier defense, while the No. 15-ranked Wolverines, winners of the last four straight matchups against the Buckeyes, are toting a 9-2 ranking and are serious opponents.
The 2025 matchup promises classic rivalry heat, drama, and high‑stakes football. So, which players will make the difference in this high-profile game?
As is often the case in football, the responsibility falls chiefly on the quarterbacks in this showdown. Both Ohio State's Julian Sayin and Michigan's Bryce Underwood have proved they're no flash in the pan, but one may stand above the other.
This season, Sayin has completed an incredible 79.4% of his passes for 2,832 yards, 27 touchdowns and four interceptions, according to ESPN research. His quarterback ranking is No. 2 in the country, and his pass efficiency is No. 1. It's going to take a lot for Michigan's defense to contain him.
Read more: Ohio State, Ryan Day Dealt Crushing News Before Michigan Game
...Read more: Urban Meyer Predicts Winner of Ohio State-Michigan
Sayin is so talented that he caught the eye of legendary coach Nick Saban early on.
Saban recruited him to play for Alabama, but Sayin entered the transfer portal right after Saban announced his retirement. He stayed on the bench last year and trained under Will Howard, and his numbers this season showed that it was the right decision.
Underwood has also played great, but his numbers aren't as strong as Sayin's. This season, he's completed 62.2% of his passes for 2,166 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions, according to Sports Reference. Plus, he's added 322 yards rushing and five touchdowns on the ground. His quarterback ranking is No. 25.
With the highly competitive QB battle, Lucas Reimink of SI gives the edge to Sayin. It's easy to see why, because the numbers tell the story.
"Ohio State certainly has the quarterback advantage at least in terms of experience and production so far in their young careers," he wrote. "Sayin has been playing as well as any quarterback in the country and is one of the top contenders for the Heisman Trophy as well.
"It'll be a tough challenge for Michigan to contain him and the potent Ohio State passing attack. They'll also need to make sure they get Bryce Underwood playing comfortable and confident early on in this game or else this game could get sideways in a hurry."
Ohio State enters Saturday's game as the favorite, thanks to Sayin, who's been putting up record-breaking numbers all season. Either way, both quarterbacks should put on a show.
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