Ohio State vs Washington: The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Washington Huskies 24-6 in Seattle, snapping Washington’s 22-game home win streak. Read the full Ohio State vs Washington recap, player grades, prediction vs reality, and what’s next for both programs. (Ohio State vs Washington, UW vs Ohio State, Washington Huskies Football)
Quick Recap — Five Load-Bearing Facts
- Final score: Ohio State 24, Washington 6.
- Buckeyes defense dominated: Washington was held to 234 total yards, only 61 rushing yards, and went 1-11 on third downs.
- Washington’s home streak snapped: The Huskies’ 22-game home winning streak was broken.
- Key defenders: Caden Curry & Kayden McDonald: OSU’s defense tallied multiple sacks, tackles for loss, and critical plays in the red zone.
- Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin: Completed 22 of 28 passes for 208 yards and 2 TDs, zero turnovers.
These facts set the foundation for the full narrative and analysis below.
Background & Pre-Game Expectations (Ohio State vs Washington)
Historical and program context
- Washington Huskies (UW Football / Huskies): Formerly of the Pac-12, now in the Big Ten, Washington is building under coach Jedd Fisch. They came into this game undefeated (3–0) and riding a dominant Apple Cup win over Washington State (59–24) as noted by UW Dawg Pound coverage.
- Ohio State Buckeyes (OSU Football / Buckeyes): Ranked No. 1 in the nation entering this game, OSU came off a bye. Their defense was among the stingiest in the country, allowing minimal scoring thus far.
- Line & predictions: Ohio State opened as a 9.5-point favorite. Analysts pointed to strength vs strength: OSU’s defense vs Washington’s improving offense led by Demond Williams Jr., and Washington’s run game by Jonah Coleman.
Given those expectations, many saw Ohio State winning but believed Washington could keep it close, especially at home.
Game Narrative — Quarter by Quarter
First half: defensive slog with breakthrough
- Early phase: The first quarter was scoreless, as both teams tested each other. Washington managed a field goal (28 yards by Gross) late in Q2 to lead 3–0.
- OSU responds: With ~1:08 left in the half, Ohio State struck on third-and-11: Julian Sayin found Jeremiah Smith for an 18-yard touchdown, giving OSU a 7–3 halftime lead.
Second half: Buckeyes take control
- Third quarter: OSU extended the lead via a 1-yard rush by CJ Donaldson, making it 14–3. Washington countered with another Gross field goal (28 yards) to make it 14–6.
- Fourth quarter: OSU added a 34-yard field goal, then a fourth-down 4-yard TD pass from Sayin to Donaldson to put the game away at 24–6.
Throughout, OSU’s defense held firm: Washington reached the red zone several times but couldn’t convert touchdowns.
[Note: Images are collected from Instagram]
Key Player Performances & Grades
Ohio State
- Julian Sayin — A: Efficient, accurate, zero turnovers. Showed poise in a hostile environment.
- Jeremiah Smith — A−: Big catch to tie the game late in first half, important target in critical moments.
- CJ Donaldson — B+: Rushed for a short TD, also caught the game-clincher pass. Balanced contribution.
- Defense (Curry, McDonald, line) — A: The workhorse of the day. Multiple TFLs, sacks, critical stops.
Washington
- Demond Williams Jr. — B: Completed 18 of 22 for 173 yards. No TDs, but kept offense moving at times.
- Jonah Coleman — C+: Managed 70 rushing yards; not enough to tilt the balance.
- Defense / red zone woes — C: Allowed multiple red zone trips to OSU, couldn’t stop critical conversions.
Dave Portnoy and Big Cat both pick Washington to upset Ohio State today and Portnoy has some thoughts.
“Nobody panics and pees down their leg faster than Ryan Day and Ohio State.” pic.twitter.com/3kztgsSCdw
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 27, 2025
Tactics & X’s & O’s Insights
Why OSU won
- Defensive front pressure: OSU’s front consistently disrupted Washington’s run game and forced plays into the passing game. McDonald’s red zone sack in Q3 was key.
- Third down dominance: OSU converted 6-of-10 third downs, whereas Washington was 1-of-11. That tilt in sustaining drives mattered.
- Game script manipulation: OSU controlled clock, had balanced run + pass, and capitalized in red zone and on fourth down when needed.
- Washington stalled: Despite entering with momentum, Husky offense failed to generate big plays and struggled in scoring territory.
Where Washington faltered
- Lack of push in trenches: The rushing attack averaged just ~2.0 ypc in many sequences.
- Red zone inefficiency: Trips inside OSU’s 20 did not convert to TDs.
- Predictability under pressure: OSU’s adjustments forced Washington into medium yardage passing, which OSU’s defense handled well.
Prediction vs Reality
Before kickoff, many analysts leaned to OSU, but expected a closer score — in the 10 to 17 point margin. A 24-6 result was more decisive than many predicted. Betting lines at OSU –9.5 were roughly aligned with expectations. The defensive performance and OSU’s ability to limit explosive plays exceeded typical projections, making this more of a statement win than a simple expected result.