Another Ohio State win, another Three Stars of the Game.
This week, the Eleven Warriors staff selected Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, running back Bo Jackson and quarterback Julian Sayin as the Buckeyes' top performers in the team's 27-9 win over That Team Up North.
First Star: Ryan Day
Usually reserved for players, our Three Stars of the Game include Ryan Day this week. After beating Michigan for the first time since 2019, the Buckeyes’ head coach earns our First Star.
Given his humility, we are sure the head coach would refuse to accept the honor if we told him about it. He'd rather give it to his players, from his quarterback to his offensive line, and his defensive line to his safeties.
“I’m happy for our players, I’m happy for our coaches and all the fans who were at the game,” Day said Saturday when asked how it feels to win The Game.
Later in his press conference, Day added, “To win this game, it’s just a great moment. It’s one of those moments that you want to grab on for a while and just enjoy it. To see the joy in everyone’s face is really what this thing is all about. That’s what being a head coach is. It’s not about you. It’s not about raising trophies. It’s not about winning games. It’s about pouring back into the people that are around you. When I say people, it’s the players, it’s the coaches, it’s their families and the fans. Winning just gives us the opportunity to continue to do that, to make an impact.”
Were going to win with humility. Ryan Day.pic.twitter.com/an2EIXbx9U
— Chase Brown (@chaseabrown__) November 29, 2025
Day’s leadership impacted a complete effort from Ohio State in its win over Michigan. Sayin and Jackson powered the Buckeyes’ offense, as the quarterback completed 19 of 26 passes for 233 yards and three touchdowns, and the running back collected 26 touches for 166 yards. Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate also made an impact in their return from injury, combining for eight catches, 122 yards and two scores.
On defense, Sonny Styles paced the Buckeyes with six tackles. He also had one of Ohio State’s three tackles for loss, combining with Kenyatta Jackson Jr.’s two. Davison Igbinosun had five tackles and an interception late in the fourth quarter.
After missing two kicks in last season’s matchup, Jayden Fielding found redemption in Ann Arbor, connecting on kicks from 23 and 24 yards.
“Our guys captured the moment and played great,” Day said.
Second Star: Bo Jackson
The greatest rivalry in sports is always about the players. This year’s matchup was no different, as Bo Jackson made a difference in Ohio State’s 18-point win.
“It was really a dream come true,” Jackson said of his performance, which included 22 carries for 117 yards and four catches for 49 yards.
Jackson credited Ohio State’s offensive line for paving the way up front. Without their efforts, Jackson said he wouldn’t have made the same impact against the Wolverines.
“All year they’ve been getting better week by week,” Jackson said. “They’ve been working very hard. That’s the key to our run game.”
Bo Jackson backs down to no one.https://t.co/RaA8FXsMBc pic.twitter.com/CEbgW5j1gM
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) November 29, 2025
Jackson surpassed 100 rushing yards for the sixth time this season and the fourth time in the past five games (Grambling State, Ohio, Penn State, UCLA and Rutgers). His 22 carries were a career-high, as were his 117 rushing yards.
This season, the Cleveland native has recorded 151 carries for 952 yards (6.3 yards per attempt) and five touchdowns. He has also hauled in 17 catches for 187 yards and one score.
Third Star: Julian Sayin
Sayin stumbled early but never stayed down.
After opening The Game 0-for-2 passing with an interception, Sayin responded by completing 19 of 24 passes for 233 yards and three touchdowns.
“We knew there was gonna be adversity. We weren’t gonna let it faze us. Adversity came on the second play of the game,” Sayin said. “We got to keep battling. I think as an offense that’s our whole mindset, just keep battling.”
Sayin’s three touchdown passes were 35 yards to Smith, 4 yards to Brandon Inniss and 50 yards to Carnell Tate. After the game, Sayin said it was “awesome” to have Smith and Tate back in the lineup, calling both of them “elite receivers.”
HOME. RUN. HITTER.
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 29, 2025
Carnell Tate hauls it in for @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/eQbICogClp
Sayin shared how much it meant to him to deliver a win over Michigan as Ohio State’s quarterback.
“When I first got here, I was taught the tradition of this and how much it means to Buckeye Nation and how much it means to the state of Ohio. We definitely want to take it one week at a time, but we knew this was coming. It was awesome to have our fans there. We ended up clearing out the stadium, having all red out there, so it was awesome.”
Between Day’s leadership, Jackson’s dominance on the ground, and Sayin’s poise in the pocket, Ohio State delivered a complete performance to secure a memorable win over Michigan.
| OPPONENT | FIRST STAR / ★ | SECOND STAR / ★★ | THIRD STAR / ★★★ |
|---|---|---|---|
| TEXAS |
ARVELL REESE, LB 9 tackles (4 solo),1 sack |
JERMAINE MATHEWS JR., CB 3 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PBU |
CARNELL TATE, WR 2 catches, 49 yards, 1 TD |
| GRAMBLING STATE |
JULIAN SAYIN, QB 18-19, 306 yards, 4 TD |
RILEY PETTIJOHN, LB 1 PBU, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 TD |
JEREMIAH SMITH, WR 5 catches, 119 yards, 2 TD |
| OHIO |
JEREMIAH SMITH, WR 9 catches, 153 yards, 2 total TD |
ARVELL REESE, LB 9 tackles (4 solo), 1 sack |
CADEN CURRY, DE 4 tackles, 1 sack, 1 PBU |
| @ WASHINGTON |
CADEN CURRY, DE 11 tackles, 5 TFL, 3 sacks |
KAYDEN MCDONALD, DT 7 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 sacks |
JULIAN SAYIN, QB 22-28, 208 yards, 2 TD |
| MINNESOTA |
CARNELL TATE, WR 9 catches, 183 yards, 1 TD |
JULIAN SAYIN, QB 23-27, 326 yards, 3 TD |
JEREMIAH SMITH, WR 7 catches, 67 yards, 2 TD |
| @ ILLINOIS |
JERMAINE MATHEWS JR., CB 1 sack, 1 FF, 1 PBU |
CALEB DOWNS, S 9 tackles, 7 solo |
ARVELL REESE, LB 9 tackles, 8 solo, 1.5 sacks |
| @ WISCONSIN |
JULIAN SAYIN, QB 36-42, 393 yards, 4 TD |
CARNELL TATE, WR 6 catches, 111 yards, 2 TD |
ARVELL REESE, LB 4 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack |
| PENN STATE |
JULIAN SAYIN, QB 20-23, 316 yards, 4 TD |
ARVELL REESE, LB 12 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack |
JEREMIAH SMITH, WR 6 catches, 123 yards, 2 TD |
| @ PURDUE |
JEREMIAH SMITH, WR 10 catches, 137 yards, 1 TD |
JULIAN SAYIN, QB 27-33, 303 yards, 1 TD |
JAYDEN FIELDING, K 49-YARD FG, 45-YARD FG |
| UCLA |
LORENZO STYLES JR., S 5 tackles, 100-yard KR TD |
BO JACKSON, RB 15 carries, 112 yards, 1 TD |
JAMES PEOPLES, RB 8 carries, 42 yards, 2 TD |
| RUTGERS |
CADEN CURRY, DE 6 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR |
MAX KLARE, TE 7 catches, 105 yards, 1 TD |
BO JACKSON, RB 19 carries, 110 yards, 2 TD |
| TEAM UP NORTH |
RYAN DAY, HEAD COACH First win over TTUN since 2019 |
BO JACKSON, RB 26 touches, 166 yards |
JULIAN SAYIN, QB 19-26, 233 yards, 3 TD |
As the season continues, we’ll track the stars (or points) each Ohio State player receives in 2025. Here’s how we’ll do it: Each time a Buckeye earns the First Star of the Game, that Buckeye adds three points to their season total. Then, the Second Star and Third Star each add two points and one point to their totals.
| RANK | PLAYER | FIRST STAR / ★ | SECOND STAR / ★★ | THIRD STAR / ★★★ | POINTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | JULIAN SAYIN | 3 | 2 | 2 | 15 |
| T2 | ARVELL REESE | 1 | 2 | 2 | 9 |
| T2 | JEREMIAH SMITH | 2 | 0 | 3 | 9 |
| 4 | CADEN CURRY | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| 5 | CARNELL TATE | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| T6 | JERMAINE MATHEWS JR. | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| T6 | BO JACKSON | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| T8 | LORENZO STYLES JR. | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| T8 | RYAN DAY | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| T10 | RILEY PETTIJOHN | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| T10 | KAYDEN MCDONALD | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| T10 | CALEB DOWNS | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| T10 | MAX KLARE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| T14 | JAYDEN FIELDING | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| T14 | JAMES PEOPLES | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
