5 reasons why Ohio State football will take down Minnesota in Week 6

After taking down the Washington Huskies 24-6 on the road last week, Ohio State returns home for a primetime matchup against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The Buckeyes enter the game as 23.5-point favorites, with kickoff set for 7:30 PM ET and streaming live on NBC and Peacock.

We always like to dissect the game in multiple ways leading up to the matchup each week, and one of those is looking at reasons why OSU will take care of business and walk out with a victory. It's the same this week.

Here are five reasons we believe the Buckeyes will come out on top Saturday night against the Golden Gophers.

DEFENSE

I believe this is the best defense the Buckeyes have fielded this decade. Over the years, we’ve seen some elite talent come through Columbus—names like Joey and Nick Bosa, Chase Young, and Jeff Okudah stand out—but this 2025 unit might be the most complete yet. The talent is stacked at every level, and it starts up front with Caden Curry and Kayden McDonald wreaking havoc on the defensive line. Curry already has five sacks on the season, while McDonald has added three of his own, and both look poised to keep that momentum going.

At linebacker, Ohio State features the best duo in the country. Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles are both projected to be early picks in the upcoming NFL Draft, and their presence in the middle of the field has been nothing short of dominant. In the secondary, the Buckeyes are just as loaded. Safeties Jaylen McClain and Caleb Downs anchor the back end, while corners Davison Igbinosun, Lorenzo Styles Jr., and Jermaine Mathews Jr. have been locking down opposing receivers all year.

Minnesota will have its hands full Saturday night. This Ohio State defense simply doesn’t give up points. Through five games, no opponent has scored more than one touchdown against them, a testament to the impact of new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia’s scheme.

Super Sayin

Freshman quarterback Julian Sayin has been everything Ohio State has needed so far in 2025. Through four games, he’s completed an impressive 78.8 percent of his passes for 987 yards, 10 touchdowns, and just three interceptions. Some analysts will say Sayin hasn’t been asked to do much, and while that may be true, I think it actually says a lot about him, not just as a quarterback, but as a person.

Most five-star quarterbacks come in fresh off dominating high school and try to play "hero ball" the moment they step on a college field. That usually doesn’t end well. Sayin has shown maturity beyond his years by understanding his role, playing within the system, and sticking to the game plan each week.

Ohio State doesn’t need him to throw for 350 yards and four touchdowns every game. They need him to distribute the ball to his elite group of receivers and help keep the run game alive, and he’s done exactly that. Minnesota may look to challenge him more on Saturday by forcing him to push the ball downfield. He hasn’t had to do that often this season, but don’t mistake that for a weakness. Sayin is more than capable of making those throws when the moment calls for it.

Bo Jackson

Freshman running back Bo Jackson earned his first official start last week against Washington and made the most of it, finishing with 17 carries for 80 yards in a solid outing. Ohio State began the season with CJ Donaldson and James Peoples as the primary options in the backfield, but after a few underwhelming performances, Jackson burst onto the scene and made it impossible for the coaching staff to keep him off the field. Now, he’s firmly established as the Buckeyes’ feature back.

Minnesota’s defense just gave up 161 yards and two touchdowns to Rutgers running back Antwan Raymond, and Jackson will be looking to deliver a similar performance on Saturday. With his combination of vision and burst, he has every chance to do just that.

Caden Curry

After losing their top two pass rushers, J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer, to the NFL in April, Ohio State had a major void to fill on the edge. Caden Curry has stepped in and delivered in a big way. He’s quickly become one of the most impactful players on this defense.

Last week against Washington, Curry was dominant, racking up 11 total tackles, five tackles for loss, and three sacks in one of the best performances of his career. Now, with momentum on his side and the Buckeyes back at home, Curry will look to keep that level of play going against Minnesota.

History Against Minnesota and Night Games

The series between Ohio State and Minnesota dates back to 1921. Through the first 12 matchups, the Buckeyes held a narrow 7-5 edge after Minnesota claimed a 17-7 win in 1966. Since then, it’s been all Ohio State, with the Buckeyes winning 40 of the last 42 meetings. That stretch includes dominant winning streaks of 12, 16, and another 12 games. (Note: the 2010 Ohio State win is not counted in the official records or stats.)

Ohio State has also thrived under the lights, posting an 85-30 record in night games, including a strong 25-5 mark at Ohio Stadium.

The Buckeyes have controlled this matchup for decades, and they’ll look to keep that trend alive on Saturday night.

This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State vs. Minnesota: 5 reasons the Buckeyes will win Saturday