Head coach Ryan Day stands alongside Buckeye gamers following No. 2 Ohio State’s 13-10 loss to Michigan, Nov. 30, 2024, at Ohio Stadium. Credit score: Carly Damon | Former Asst. Photograph Editor
The Recreation is simply 4 days away.
Custom, delight, post-season implications and for Ohio State, ending a four-game dropping streak to Michigan, are all at stake when the Buckeyes journey to Ann Arbor on Saturday to face its bitter rival.
Head coach Ryan Day is concentrated on this 12 months’s matchup relatively than on latest historical past.
“What’s occurred prior to now doesn’t matter both, it doesn’t,” Day mentioned. “You possibly can be taught from it, however let’s simply have an awesome Tuesday and put together the most effective we are able to to go win this sport on Saturday. That’s the place the main target needs to be and we are able to’t let anything distract us.”
Listed here are the takeaways from Day’s Tuesday press convention on the Woody Hayes Athletic Heart.
Smith and Tate’s availability
As soon as once more, the well being of huge receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate stays unclear for the Buckeyes.
Day didn’t present an official replace on whether or not both of Ohio State’s high wideouts would play on Saturday.
“They’re doing every little thing they’ll to play within the sport, we’ll see how at this time goes, however they’re working actually actually laborious to get again on the sphere,” Day mentioned.
On the season, Smith averages 90.2 receiving yards and Tate averages 88.9 receiving yards. However within the Buckeyes’ 42-9 win over Rutgers final week, Ohio State’s huge receivers mixed for 4 catches for 33 yards and a landing.
“They’ll be getting bodily reps and psychological reps all week in preparation, these guys have performed plenty of soccer,” Day mentioned. “In the long run we’ll look to the medical employees to present us the thumbs up or not.”
Dealing with emotion in rivalry video games
It’s no secret that The Recreation brings out feelings. It was seen final 12 months after Michigan’s 13-10 victory in Columbus, the place tempers flared in a post-game scrum. Every time the scarlet and grey and maize and blue sq. off, the anticipation for the groups and followers alike mounts.
Add on that Ohio State hasn’t overwhelmed the Wolverines in 2,191 days, and Day understands that the expectation for the Buckeyes to win has risen.
“They know the way essential that is, they know that that is our No. 1 objective yearly to win this sport,” Day mentioned.
Day mentioned dealing with strain towards the Buckeyes’ greatest rival is essential within the consequence of the sport.
“[If] you begin to recover from emotional, you can begin to get distracted and get your self out of whack and never do your job,” Day mentioned.
Sayin’s preparation
Redshirt-freshman quarterback Julian Sayin might be making his first highway begin towards a ranked opponent Saturday.
Day described that he’s searching for composure from Ohio State’s sign caller within the Huge Home.
“He’s bought to speak, deal with the surroundings and what comes with it,” Day mentioned. “He’s proven composure this 12 months, however now he’s bought to be at his greatest.”
Day emphasised that the sport’s consequence won’t be decided solely by Sayin’s efficiency, urging that it’s going to take a whole staff effort.
“It’s not simply the quarterback, it’s all people concerned and that’s what all of us want to know,” Day mentioned. “I feel generally once we look again we need to level the finger at one factor or one other but it surely’s all people. That’s why once we play in matchup video games like this, it might probably come down to 1 play so all people in your complete constructing needs to be on level this week.”
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