Eric Boggs
Ohio State is preparing for its second road test of the season and head coach Ryan Day is making one thing clear: the Buckeyes must stay focused. After a dominant 42–3 win over Minnesota, Day spent much of his Tuesday press conference shifting the conversation away from past success and toward maintaining sharpness against a dangerous Illinois team.
For Day, the upcoming trip to Champaign is less about the opponent and more about continuing the habits that define elite football. “Every time I hear somebody say you guys are doing great or anything like that, I just feel like we’re getting set up,” Day said. “It’s our job as coaches and leaders to make sure guys understand that we say ignore the noise. Usually, they’re talking about adversity. I’m using it right now with our guys because all of a sudden, everyone thinks you’re the number one team in the country and you’ve done all these things. We haven’t done anything yet.”
That message — one rooted in humility and relentless improvement — has been consistent throughout Day’s tenure. It’s what defined Nick Saban during his time at Alabama. He called that kind of praise “rat poison,” and he despised it. It appears Day is following in the legendary coaches foot steps. He is reminding his players that Ohio State’s standard isn’t defined by polls or margins of victory but by how the team trains and performs each week. “We haven’t accomplished a thing,” he continued. “The only thing that’s going to matter is who gets better week in and week out.”
The Buckeyes’ focus this week centers on Illinois, a program Day clearly respects. He praised Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema as “one of the better coaches in the country” and expects a physical challenge from a team that knows how to win. “They’re tough. They’re smart. They know how to win games like this,” Day said. “They’re really good. We have to have the best week of practice we’ve had all year.”
Day’s emphasis on efficiency also extends to the offense, where he continues to balance tempo and precision. After being asked about whether the Buckeyes are letting opposing defenses dictate the pace, Day brushed off the concern. “I think the key is efficiency and whatever allows us the opportunity to be the most efficient,” he said. “If we need to speed up the game, we will. But to me, it’s all about how efficient we are with our plays.” His point was simple — the Buckeyes don’t need to run more plays; they just need to make every one count.
The offense’s ability to maintain that efficiency has been fueled by redshirt freshman quarterback Julian Sayin’s growth. Day noted that Sayin’s command of the huddle and processing have improved each week. “You’re seeing Julian grow each week,” Day said. “He’s taking more and more command. I think he understands (who) he’s surrounded by on both sides of the ball, and if we can continue to do that, we’re going to have a chance to reach our goals this season.”
Still, Day knows that young quarterbacks face their toughest tests on the road. “This is going to be another challenge for him on the road,” Day said. “Second road game, another really difficult environment. To me, this is a top-ten opponent on the road, and he’s going to have to play really, really well. This is the next step in the progression.”
That progression — both for Sayin and the entire team — comes back to the same core message Day repeats weekly: consistency over complacency. “The team we were last week is not going to be good enough,” he warned. “We’ve got to be better in a lot of areas. The minute we think we’ve got this figured out, we’re about to get it.”
Day’s focus isn’t on chasing style points. It’s about staying grounded, maintaining efficiency, and sharpening the edges that make championship teams. “We have to bring it,” Day said. “Every single team we play, including this team, can knock you off if you’re not on your game. This has to be the best game we’ve played all season.”
