Ohio State outlasts Washington: No. 1 Buckeyes shake off slow start, ride defense to win Big Ten opener

Ohio State still hasn't allowed a red zone touchdown this season through four games. The Buckeyes' defense has been dominant under first-year coordinator Matt Patricia, giving up just 22 total points on 39 opponent drives.

That's insane.

Any concern of a regression without Jim Knowles has been erased. This is another elite, championship-caliber unit in Columbus. Ohio State sacked Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. six times and added three other tackles for loss on Saturday.

Snapping the opponent's 22-game home winning streak in your first road start as a college quarterback is no small feat. Ohio State sophomore Julian Sayin shook off a slow start before picking apart a short-handed Washington defense. Sayin misfired on three of his first seven passes before completing 10 straight between the end of the second quarter and into the third.

He got rid of the ball when he needed to, took advantage of check downs and avoided the big negative plays, taking just one sack that came late in the fourth.

"His first start ever at Ohio State was against Texas at home, who at the time was No. 1," Buckeyes' coach Ryan Day told CBS sideline reporter Jenny Dell postgame. "And then his first road start was against a team that's won 22 straight games at home. So he's got composure. He's got poise. He gives really good information during the play. If there were times today that I thought I saw something, I went back and watched the film and he was right. He trusts his reads. He's got a bright future ahead of him."

Final: Ohio State 24, Washington 6

It looked like No. 1 Ohio State was going to have a four-quarter fight on its hands at Washington on Saturday before pulling away for a 24-6 win on the road. The Buckeyes' dominant defense kept the Huskies out of the end zone, allowing just six points on three drives that reached the 30.

Ryan Day did a masterful job managing quarterback Julian Sayin in his first road start since high school, sticking to a run-heavy offense early before letting his sophomore quarterback loosen up a bit closer to halftime. Sayin finished 22 of 28 for 208 yards and two touchdowns -- one to Jeremiah Smith and another short pass to CJ Donaldson Jr.

Missed opportunities proved to be Washington's biggest detriment, with a failed fake field goal attempt in the first half and a 1-for-11 mark on third downs. Quarterback Demond Williams Jr. was efficient, completing 82% of his passes for 173 yards, but could not find the end zone. The Buckeyes also bottled up running back Jonah Coleman, who was limited to 70 yards on 13 carries.

Also, Washington's home winning streak is over. It hadn't lost at Husky Stadium since the start of the 2022 season, rattling off 22 straight wins before falling to Ohio State on Saturday. As for Day, he improved to 49-0 against Big Ten opponents not Michigan or Oregon.

Late 4Q: Ohio State 24, Washington 6

The Huskies have not been able to find the end zone, but quarterback Demond Williams Jr. was quietly on fire, completing 14 consecutive passes before just his second incompletion of the game. Washington got across midfield before turning the ball over on downs as Williams was sacked for the fifth time of the game.

Ohio State milked the clock with an eight play 44 yard drive that ended with a CJ Donaldson Jr. touchdown catch on fourth-and-1 from the Washington 3.

Early 4Q: Ohio State 17, Washington 6

That's an important stop for the Washington defense, holding Ohio State to a field goal. If the Huskies are going to get back into this, it needs to start with a touchdown on the ensuing drive. Just two field goals on three red zone trips isn't going to cut it.

End 3Q: Ohio State 14, Washington 6

Again, Washington put together a strong drive before stalling close to the end zone. The Huskies went 65 yards on eight plays. Quarterback Demond Williams Jr. sparked the march with a pair of explosive completions that kept Ohio State's defense on its heels, eventually pushing the Huskies to the 3-yard line. But the Buckeyes' defensive front held firm -- a crushing third-down sack forced Washington to settle for a 28-yard field goal with another drive unfinished.

Meanwhile, Ohio State is clicking offensively, slowly picking apart the Huskies' defense and threatening to find the end zone again. Another touchdown might put this out of reach for Washington.

Mid 3Q: Ohio State 14, Washington 3

Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is starting to give Washington some fits, hauling in four passes for 28 yards on an Ohio State touchdown drive. Quarterback Julian Sayin, in his first road start since high school, has been methodical but effective, completing 15 of 19 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown midway through the third quarter. The Buckeyes also got a massive break on a roughing-the-passer penalty against Washington on third-and-20.

Three plays later, Ohio State capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run by CJ Donaldson Jr.

CBS sideline reporter Jenny Dell reported after halftime that Washington edge Zach Durfee and offensive lineman Carver Willis will not return due to injury.

Half: Ohio State 7, Washington 3

Ohio State finally let quarterback Julian Sayin stretch the field a bit, connecting with top wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Brandon Inniss. Smith, held in check much of the first half, eventually broke free on a short pass for an 18-yard touchdown. The Buckeyes avoided a first-half shutout -- something that hasn't happened since the 2016 College Football Playoff semifinal against Clemson.

All in all, it wasn't a bad half for the Huskies, but the failed fake field goal was a costly misstep. The absence of cornerback Tacario Davis and pass rusher Zach Durfee -- injured in the first half and unlikely to return -- leave gaps in the defense.

Late 2Q: Washington 3, Ohio State 0

Washington isn't playing it safe, converting a fourth-and-1 from the OSU 45 on a keeper by Demond Williams Jr. Later in the drive, a fake field goal attempt by kicker Grady Gross was snuffed out by Ohio State, as Decker DeGraaf couldn't connect while tied up downfield.

Early 2Q: Washington 3, Ohio State 0

Ohio State's red zone streak stays alive -- still no touchdowns allowed this season -- as the defense forced Washington to settle for a 28-yard field goal. On offense, though, the Buckeyes remain conservative, and the Husky Stadium crowd is rattling quarterback Julian Sayin, who is just 2 of 4 for nine yards through two drives.

End 1Q: Washington 0, Ohio State 0

Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. is carving up the Ohio State secondary -- 6 of 7 for 77 yards so far -- while running back Jonah Coleman ripped off a 34-yard run. The Huskies already have three chunk plays on this drive but face third-and-10 at the OSU 10 to start the second quarter.

Mid 1Q: Ohio State 0, Washington 0

This game is already chaotic. Washington coach Jedd Fisch lost it on the sideline, drawing an unsportsmanlike flag right after a sideline interference penalty. But the Huskies caught a break moments later -- Ohio State returner Brandon Inniss coughed up the ball after a 32-yard punt return, handing possession right back to Washington.

Early 1Q: Ohio State 0, Washington 0

The Buckeyes' defense opened strong with a three-and-out, setting the offense up at midfield. CJ Donaldson Jr. powered the drive into the red zone with five carries for 30 yards, but Washington's defense came up huge on fourth-and-short inside the 5. The Huskies also doubled standout receiver Jeremiah Smith to keep him in check early with one catch for six yards on the first drive.

The top of the Heisman Trophy odds sheet has undergone a makeover in the first month of the season after college football's projected star quarterbacks struggled through early problems.

Of the preseason top-five in the FanDuel Sportsbook Heisman odds, only Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith is still there. At +1100, he is the only receiver with Heisman odds of better than 100-to-1 entering Week 5 and the only non-quarterback with odds of better than 50-to-1.

Smith's stock may be rising even higher Saturday, when the No. 1 Buckeyes travel to face Washington in a Big Ten clash on CBS (3:30 p.m. ET, also on Paramount+ Premium). 

The star sophomore enters a showcase opportunity against the Huskies as a vital cog in a Buckeyes offense that is ready to tee off following a subdued start. Ohio State rode its defense to a 14-7 Week 1 win over Texas. Since then, it has played two overmatched opponents and had a bye week.

As just an 8-point favorite against Washington, Ohio State is finally set to unveil its true offensive capabilities against an opponent with questionable defensive credentials.

No. 1 Ohio State at Washington has the makings of Jeremiah Smith's loud introduction to 2025's Heisman party

David Cobb

Despite Ohio State being more than a touchdown favorite on the road, this Big Ten showdown could be tighter than many expect in the first half. But the Buckeyes have the talent and the matchup advantages to pull away late, provided they handle the hostile environment inside Husky Stadium. Even if Washington manages to contain wideout Jeremiah Smith, the depth of Ohio State's receiving corps gives quarterback Julian Sayin multiple weapons to exploit. Pick: Ohio State -8.5

Washington first-year starting quarterback Demond Williams Jr. has been outstanding through three games, posting a 0.89 EPA per play -- third-best among all FBS quarterbacks with at least 100 snaps, per TruMedia. He now faces one of his toughest tests yet against an Ohio State defense that has allowed just two touchdowns and a field goal all season.

The Huskies star running back, Jonah Coleman, ranks second in the FBS this season with 165.7 scrimmage yards per game and leads the nation with 10 total touchdowns. He joins an elite group of FBS players since 2000 to reach 150+ scrimmage yards per game with at least 10 touchdowns through three contests, including Chester Taylor (Toledo, 2001), Lamar Jackson (Louisville, 2016), Jonathan Taylor (Wisconsin, 2019) and Mohamed Ibrahim (Minnesota, 2020).

Meet Jonah Coleman: Washington's TD machine set to face toughest test as Huskies battle No. 1 Ohio State

Cody Nagel

Washington isn't the only one in this matchup with a massive streak on the line. Ohio State coach Ryan Day has excelled in games with extended preparation, going 18-4 in contests with at least eight days to game plan since 2019. That includes nine regular-season post-bye matchups where the Buckeyes averaged a 33.9 points per game differential. Day is also 48-0 against Big Ten opponents not named Michigan or Oregon. Also, Ohio State has won 13 straight Big Ten openers with the last loss coming in 2011.

Impressive streaks on the line for Ryan Day, Ohio State entering unbeaten Week 5 showdown at Washington

Brad Crawford

Reigning national champion Ohio State travels to the Pacific Northwest hoping to avoid a similar stumble to last year's loss at Oregon when it takes on Washington in a Big Ten opener Saturday afternoon on CBS. The top-ranked Buckeyes (3-0) haven't been on the road yet this season and enter an environment where the Huskies (3-0) have rattled off 22 consecutive home wins since the start of the 2022 season.

Ohio State's No. 1 scoring defense, coming off a bye, faces one of its toughest early-season tests against Washington's high-powered offense led by quarterback Demond Williams Jr. and running back Jonah Coleman. The Huskies rank second in the FBS with 55.7 points per game.

A potential upset in Seattle would certainly shake up the College Football Playoff picture as the weekend features multiple top-25 matchups, putting Ohio State's national title defense on the line early.

Ohio State vs. Washington prediction, pick, odds, spread: No. 1 Buckeyes meet Huskies in Big Ten opener

Cody Nagel