Eric Boggs
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day emphasized maturity, preparation, and execution as the Buckeyes turn their attention to Minnesota following a hard-fought road victory. Day credited his team’s ability to handle a hostile environment and said the experience will only help them moving forward.
“We spent a long time during those two weeks cranking up the music and give our facilities people a lot of credit,” Day said. “We had monster speakers out there and made it really loud and hard to communicate. … In the preparation we were able to handle the chaos of it. So I thought that was good.”
Quarterback Julian Sayin’s composure and the experience of the offensive line helped steady the unit in a setting that tested their discipline. Though Day noted the Buckeyes still need to improve in the red zone, he stressed that efficiency remains the priority in games where possessions are limited.
Against Minnesota, Day expects another physical challenge, particularly in the trenches. “They historically have played very, very physical against the run and continue to do that,” he said. “You don’t play Minnesota and think you’re just going to run the ball without a lot of hard work. … We’re working hard this week to put a good game plan together, and then we need to put that to work here on a Tuesday practice and a Wednesday practice and a Thursday practice.”
Day also pointed to the team’s growth over the first month of the season, highlighting improved maturity across the roster. “One of the things this summer we talked about, we’ve got to grow up in a big way, but you’re seeing maturity,” Day said. “To play the way that we played up to this point shows maturity, and that was a big emphasis point for us this summer with a team that hadn’t had a lot of experience.”
The Buckeyes now return home for a night game against Minnesota, where Day believes the energy inside Ohio Stadium can provide another boost. After navigating the long trip to Washington and handling the distractions of the road, the team looks to sharpen its identity and keep momentum building.
