Eric Boggs
After Ohio State’s commanding 49-14 win over Marshall, head coach Ryan Day emphasized his satisfaction with the team’s explosive offense but noted the need for improvements on special teams and defense as the Buckeyes head into Big Ten play.
“We wanted to play fast today,” Day said, highlighting the offensive game plan that aimed to wear Marshall down. “When you’re creating explosive plays… things like [turnovers] can happen. That’s the risk.” Day praised his offense for maintaining a strong tempo despite limited time on the field early in the game, which was crucial to Ohio State’s dominance.
However, not everything went smoothly. Day expressed frustration with kicker Jayden Fielding’s performance, particularly with multiple kickoffs going out of bounds. “That’s putting our defense in a terrible situation… it’s completely ridiculous,” Day said, acknowledging the need for a quick fix. Backup kicker Austin Snyder stepped in and performed well, showing promise for the future.
Defensively, Ohio State had some ups and downs. Marshall’s spread offense and quarterback runs caused challenges early, but the Buckeyes tightened things up in the second half. “We kept playing on it, did some good things… but there’s still a lot of things we’re not going to be pleased with,” Day admitted, emphasizing that the team would review the film to correct execution errors.
On the ground, the Buckeyes’ run game picked up steam after a slow start. Day praised the effort of running backs TreVeyon Henderson, Quinshon Judkins, and James Peoples, noting their unselfishness and ability to play off each other. “They all have special abilities, they play well off each other… they’re all running downhill and playing really fast,” Day said.
As the Buckeyes prepare for the challenges of Big Ten competition, Day is encouraged by the team’s growth but knows there’s work to be done. “We’re seeing improvement… but we’re not making any judgments yet. Bigger challenges are ahead.”
With the win, Ohio State moves to 3-0 as they continue to refine their identity before conference play.
