Eric Boggs
Texas week has finally arrived, and the anticipation in Columbus is off the charts. Ohio State enters Saturday’s showdown against the No. 1 Texas Longhorns knowing this is more than just an opener — it’s a tone-setter for the entire season. Ryan Day made that clear during his Tuesday press conference, where he covered everything from quarterback Julian Sayin’s debut to Brian Hartline’s new role, defensive depth, and the critical need for Buckeye Nation to make The Shoe “the most hostile environment in the country.”
Day opened by acknowledging the stakes. Texas, led by sophomore quarterback Arch Manning, is coming into Columbus as the preseason No. 1 team in the nation, but Day isn’t interested in hype. “This is an exciting time of year,” he said. “The goal is to win the opener. Once this game is over, we’ll figure out what we did well, what we need to improve on, and where we go from there. But Saturday is about making a statement.”
One of the biggest storylines this week is Julian Sayin, the true freshman quarterback who won the starting job after an intense offseason battle. Sayin, wearing the green-dot helmet, will have live communication with offensive coordinator Brian Hartline, who confirmed he’ll be calling plays from the coaches’ box rather than the sideline. “We’re going to try to get him into a rhythm,” Day said. “Every day he’s getting more and more confident. Take care of the ball, trust your training, and when it’s time to let it rip — let it rip.”
This marks Hartline’s second stint as offensive coordinator, but this time his role is far different. He’s the full-time play-caller, a change that should help streamline offensive communication. “He’ll be in the box,” Day laughed, after being asked multiple times about Hartline’s game-day location. From above, Hartline will serve as Sayin’s eyes in the sky, analyzing Texas’ defensive looks and feeding adjustments directly to the freshman quarterback.
On the other side of the ball, defensive coordinator Matt Patricia has worked to prepare the Buckeyes for Manning and Texas’ explosive offense. Day listed Kayden McDonald, Eddrick Houston, Will Smith Jr., Tywone Malone Jr., and Jarquez Carter as defensive tackles ready to contribute on Saturday. “We’re gonna roll those guys pretty good,” Day said. “I feel like we’ve developed depth there, and we’ve made progress at that position.”
One name Buckeye fans want to see get more involved this time around is wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. In last season’s Cotton Bowl loss to Texas, Smith was held to just one catch for three yards, something Day admitted cannot happen again. “When Jeremiah’s touching the ball, good things happen,” Day said. “It’s on us as coaches to scheme ways to get him more involved, but ultimately it comes down to balance. If we have balance, we have a chance to attack teams.”
The offensive line remains the biggest question mark heading into Saturday, with right tackle Phillip Daniels earning praise for his standout preseason. Day isn’t ready to reveal his full lineup yet, saying the staff will “let the week play out” before making final decisions.
Day also made it clear that contingency planning is critical in a game of this magnitude. “You have to have Plan B ready,” he said. “You’ve got to prepare for everything, because Texas will show you different looks, and you have to be ready to adjust.”
Perhaps the most passionate moment of the press conference came when Day addressed Buckeye Nation directly. Crowd noise played a role in Ohio State’s losses last season, and he doesn’t want a repeat against Texas. “I know it’s a noon game, but we need everybody in that stadium early,” Day demanded. “We need them loud. When Texas has the ball, we need it to be the most hostile environment in the country.”
To help prepare his young team for the spotlight, Day ran the most detailed mock game of his coaching career last Saturday. The Buckeyes went through every step — pregame warmups, locker room routines, halftime adjustments, and even postgame traditions like Carmen Ohio. “With a young team, I thought that was important,” Day explained. “We wanted to make sure they knew what to expect, so Saturday won’t be the first time they experience it.”
As for Texas, Day’s respect for Arch Manning and the Longhorns is clear, but he insists this game is about Ohio State. “You look at everything on film, but ultimately it comes down to what our guys can do,” he said. “I have the utmost respect for the Manning family. Great ambassadors for the game, great players. But that has nothing to do with Saturday. This game is about us.”
Saturday at noon, it’s No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 1 Texas inside Ohio Stadium — a matchup between two blue-blood programs with playoff aspirations on the line from the very first snap. The Buckeyes still remember last year’s Cotton Bowl win. With a young quarterback, a revamped offensive approach, and a roaring crowd behind them, Ohio State has a chance to deliver an early-season statement and defeat the Longhorns for a second straight time.
Bottom line: Texas may be No. 1, but The Shoe is ready, the Buckeyes are hungry, and Julian Sayin is about to step into the spotlight.
