Ohio State’s new QB matches a feat last accomplished by Jim Harbaugh

They played for rival schools 40 years apart, but Julian Sayin and Jim Harbaugh now share a piece of history.

On Saturday, Sayin led Ohio State to a win over No. 1 Texas. In doing so, according to the FOX broadcast, he became the first quarterback to beat the AP No. 1-ranked team in his first career start since Harbaugh did it with Michigan in 1984.

Ohio State, ranked No. 3, took down the Longhorns 14-7 at Ohio Stadium. Sayin posted pedestrian stats, completing 13 of 20 passes for 126 yards and one touchdown. The Buckeyes managed just 203 yards of offense but it was enough against a Texas team that struggled all afternoon offensively with quarterback Arch Manning.

Harbaugh’s first start also came in the season opener, back on Sept. 8, 1984. The redshirt sophomore led No. 14 Michigan to a win over top-ranked Miami, the defending national champs, 22-14 in Ann Arbor. Harbaugh was 11 for 21 for 162 yards and two interceptions, one of which was tipped by a Michigan receiver.

Per an Ann Arbor News story about the game, Harbaugh was “calm” according to a teammate. “He knows he can improve,” then-head coach Bo Schembechler said. “He’s a competitive kid who did a good job. But he hurried some throws that went high.”

Michigan lost its next game, Harbaugh suffered a season-ending arm injury in the fifth game, and the Wolverines finished 6-6. (Miami went 8-5 that year.) Harbaugh returned the next season and had a standout college and pro career before becoming a coach. He led Michigan to the national championship in 2023 before returning to the NFL.

We’ll see what becomes of Sayin — who played 27 snaps over four games as a freshman last season — and Ohio State. The Buckeyes visit Michigan to close the regular season on Nov. 29.