Eric Boggs
In the midst of an early-season bye week, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day spoke about his team’s focus on improvement and the challenges they face moving forward. During a press conference, Day emphasized the importance of keeping the Buckeyes sharp during this “improvement week,” where the team continues to work hard despite not having a game.
Day’s approach to the bye week is clear: it’s all about maintaining momentum. “We’re calling it an improvement week because we need to continue to improve,” Day said. “We’ve got to get each other better, and every player is given things to improve on from their position coach.”
With an unconventional two-bye week schedule this season, Day is making sure the team doesn’t lose its edge. He explained, “They don’t want to rest right now. They feel like they got momentum coming out of this game.” He added that the team will be practicing throughout the week to stay in rhythm. “These guys understand how important this is, how early it is in the season, and they don’t want to lose their edge either.”
In addition to focusing on the fundamentals, Day also highlighted the team’s use of technology to enhance performance. The availability of tablets on the sidelines has become a valuable asset. “The great news now is we have these tablets so we can see exactly what happened after the series,” Day explained. “It helps us be more accurate in what we’re saying during a game.”
One of the notable takeaways from the early season has been the performance of new players and transfers. Day praised veteran transfer Seth McLaughlin, who has brought stability to the offensive line. “He calms everything down inside,” Day said. “When you’re going at somebody, and they look at you in the eye and say, ‘We got this,’ and then they actually straighten it out—that’s leadership.”
Looking ahead, Day acknowledged that while the Buckeyes have started strong, there is still a lot of work to be done. “We’re nowhere where we need to be,” he stated. “We played hard, with emotion and passion, but this is just the beginning. We’re literally just getting out of the starting gates.”
For Day and Ohio State, this bye week isn’t about taking a break—it’s about building on the momentum and continuing to improve. With the Big Ten season looming, the Buckeyes are focused on staying sharp, fine-tuning their game, and preparing for the bigger challenges ahead.
