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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ryan Day often says the right thing when speaking into a microphone, and Tuesday was no exception for the seventh-year Ohio State football coach preparing to lead his team into a matchup with Purdue. The first question of his weekly press conference centered around a likely conundrum Day will face. Ohio State’s next three opponents are Purdue, UCLA and Rutgers — a stretch where the Buckeyes should have lofty early leads. So, how does he plan on balancing playing time for reserves, such as backup quarterback Lincoln Kienholz, with letting Heisman contenders improve their statistics, such as star QB Julian Sayin? “This is all about… focusing on Purdue on the road,” Day said. “That’s it. I think anytime we get focused on anything other than that, it becomes a distraction. We can’t do that.” Latest Ohio State Buckeyes news Ohio State football’s linebackers are competing for prestigious awards: Buckeye Breakfast Ohio State’s College Football Playoff ranking doesn’t matter, only one thing does: Stephen Means Where is Ohio State in the first College Football Playoff rankings? Here’s the bracket and full top 25 Julian Sayin’s Heisman campaign; the Hugh Freeze era ends at Auburn: College football’s winners and losers from Week 10 It’s on the coach to ensure his team understands that diplomatic message. Those outside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center can go a different route, though. The reality for Ohio State — an undefeated team fresh off winning a national title — is that it can pick its score the next three weeks. The Buckeyes can pad stats for their standout players, or they can take their foot off the pedal and let the clock run to triple zeroes. Regardless of which path Ohio State takes, the rest of November isn’t actually about Purdue, UCLA and Rutgers. It’s about gearing up to end a four-game skid against rival Michigan. How can Day change the narrative surrounding him? Beat Michigan. How do Sayin and Jeremiah Smith cement themselves in the Heisman race? Beat Michigan. How does Ohio state ensure it makes the Big Ten title game for the first time since 2020? Beat Michigan. Michigan month started the moment Ohio State defeated Penn State on Saturday. The Buckeyes can dedicate the rest of November to eliminating the dark cloud lingering overhead. Ryan Day doesn’t care about College Football Playoff rankings Ohio State debuted at No. 1 in the College Football Playoff rankings, giving the Buckeyes a clear path to their goal of being the top team in the bracket. Day knows November rankings don’t mean much, though, unless OSU takes care of business in Ann Arbor. “It’s great for the fans. It’s good for the sport, which is great for all of us,” Day said of the rankings. “I’m glad they do it, but it’s not something that really matters to us.” If Ohio State beats Purdue, UCLA and Rutgers, it’ll lock up a spot in the CFP. In that sense, a loss to Michigan doesn’t factor into OSU’s chances of winning a national title — which was the case last season. However, a loss to Michigan could keep Ohio State out of the Dec. 6 conference title game in Indianapolis. As was evident last season, losing to the Wolverines could also create a tougher path in the postseason. The Buckeyes were the No. 8 seed in last year’s bracket, forcing them to play against Tennessee, Oregon, Texas and Notre Dame. Penn State, the conference runner-up, faced Southern Methodist and Boise State in its first two CFP games. A win against Michigan could make the postseason draw easier, and it would likely lessen the test by one game. At 12-0, OSU would likely secure a bye as a top-four team in the CFP, regardless of what happens in the Big Ten title game. Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith could use Heisman moments Day was asked after the win against Penn State if he thinks Sayin is the best quarterback in the country. His response resembled one of a coach who has seen players lose the Heisman because of The Game. “It’ll be told when the season is over,” Day said. “…We have to see what the season holds for us and the progress that’s made, and then we go from there.” Quarterback C.J. Stroud was a Heisman finalist for Ohio State in consecutive years (2021-22). However, he never won the award despite being the betting favorite at points in each season. His fate correlated to his results against Michigan. Stroud never beat the Wolverines as a starter. A trip to the Heisman ceremony seems likely for Sayin, and Smith isn’t far below, according to DraftKings’ odds. A win inside Michigan Stadium could win the Heisman for one of them. A loss would do the opposite. Ryan Day’s one blemish: The Game Day’s struggles against Michigan are underlined by one stat. As a head coach, he’s only ever lost once to an unranked opponent. That was Michigan last season. Day is one of three active head coaches (Georgia’s Kirby Smart, Clemson’s Dabo Swinney) with a national title. He’s reached the sport’s pinnacle, but there’s one blemish on his résumé. The New Hampshire native is 1-4 against The Team Up North, as they refer to Michigan inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. His record will still be a losing one even with a win this season. But if he wants to put together a winning streak in the rivalry, it has to begin somewhere. For Day, even as he treats the upcoming opponents with respect, it starts now. If his Michigan fortunes change, this month will be why.
