The Ohio State Buckeyes are about to face their first true road test of the 2025 season — and it comes with serious implications. This Saturday, they travel across multiple time zones to take on the undefeated Washington Huskies, a new Big Ten rival hoping to make a massive statement in front of a home crowd that hasn’t seen a game this big in years.

Washington is coming off a dominant 59-24 win over Washington State, and their offense — powered by QB Demond Williams Jr. and RB Jonah Coleman — ranks 10th nationally in total yards per game (536). The Huskies are confident and explosive, but Ohio State enters the game as heavy favorites to remain unbeaten.

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Still, with freshman quarterback Julian Sayin making his first start away from Columbus, this matchup is anything but a gimme. Here are three keys for the Buckeyes to stay perfect:

Husky Stadium will be electric, and Washington’s fans will look to disrupt Sayin and the Buckeyes from the first snap. The best way to quiet a hostile crowd? Punch early and punch hard. Ohio State should lean on battle-tested playmakers like Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate to take early pressure off Sayin and put points on the board. Sustaining long drives or hitting a big play in the first quarter could flip the stadium’s energy — and shift control of the game.

Sayin has dazzled in Columbus, throwing for 779 yards and eight TDs with a 79 percent completion rate. But this will be his first start on the road — and across the country, no less.

Ohio State should ease him in with quick rhythm throws, screen passes, and a heavy dose of the three-headed backfield featuring CJ Donaldson, Bo Jackson, and James Peoples. Don’t be surprised if he starts slow, but with smart play-calling and composure, he can settle in and thrive.\

WATCH: Ohio State vs Washington Preview | First Road Test for Julian Sayin & Buckeyes’ Defense

Washington’s offensive identity starts with the ground game. Jonah Coleman is averaging a jaw-dropping 7.0 yards per carry with nine touchdowns already. Williams adds dual-threat danger with 220 rushing yards of his own. But if Ohio State’s front seven — Caden Curry, Arvell Reese, and others — can take away the run and pressure Williams, the advantage shifts. Williams has solid passing stats (74 percent completions, six TDs), but he’s been sacked six times and relies heavily on WR Denzel Boston, who has 16 of the team’s limited receptions.

Force Washington into 3rd-and-longs, and let Ohio State’s elite secondary go to work. The last time Ohio State played in Seattle was 2007, and with Sayin making his first road start, the unknowns are real. But if the Buckeyes handle the noise, protect the football, and dictate the trenches, they should leave the Pacific Northwest with a win — and a big confidence boost heading into October.

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