It’s not the first rodeo for the Oregon Ducks vs. Ohio State Buckeyes, and let’s just say their last showdown was a total nail-biter, with Oregon barely scraping by with a 1-point win. However, this time, Ryan Day and the Buckeyes are not taking any chances. Does it sound delusional? Yes, we know that Oregon is currently the number 1 team in the game and also the undefeated one, but we question whether Oregon will win this time. In college football, anything can happen.

Now, just before the Rose Bowl game, Buckeyes star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith gave an open challenge to the Ducks that if they play man-to-man against them, they are going to take a shot down the field. Given Jeremiah’s history—he was the first true freshman WR at Ohio State to break the 1,000-yard mark—it’s definitely within possibility.

Even RJ Young feels the same as he says, “Jeremiah Smith that we saw against Oregon, that Oregon saw, is not the same player. He is a totally different and better version of that wide receiver. That wide receiver had nine catches for 100 yards against Oregon’s defense, okay?” That’s something the Ducks should look out for because what happened in their last meet might not happen this time.

Last time, Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith landed in a deep soup when he got penalized for an offensive pass at the very last moment. Just imagine the situation where your team is just 22 seconds away from a win, and you are standing on a 21-yard line for a game-winning field goal, and boom, you are out for an offensive pass interference, forcing you to return to your opponent’s 43-yard line. That’s the moment you not just lose your mind, but your willpower.

But this time not just Jeremiah Smith but the whole team is ready for a revenge game. Especially Ryan Day’s defense. Even RJ Young feels the same, as he says, “It’s also a one-point win for Oregon, and all the teams they beat that are still playing today—Penn State, Boise State, Ohio State—were one-score games. I think the defense is the thing that Oregon should really fear.” That’s a straight fact. Ducks’ major wins were just one point away from the loss.

And talking about their defense, yes, they did mess up against the Ducks, allowing 32 points, 496 yards, and 341 passing yards, turning out to be the season’s worst for the Buckeyes. But since then, Ohio State revamped their defense and just allowed 17, 13, 0, 7, 15, 10, and 17 points in all their games. Now their biggest test is on the deck, and it’s time to step up.

Can Jeremiah Smith and Ryan Day make it happen for the Buckeyes?

We all know the kind of impact the Oregon Ducks left over the Buckeyes after their last game. Okay, leave Jeremiah Smith’s mishap part, but then QB Will Howard, too, faltered by sliding to the ground, losing his momentum. That’s what made it impossible for Day’s team to score a game-winning goal against the Ducks. But now it’s time for them to move from the past and see what’s next for them.

Well, some think that Ryan Day and the team might mess up their game just like they did against Michigan. And now enters Josh Pate with some tips to avoid such mistakes.

Now the most evident reason why the Buckeyes lost their game against the Ducks in their first meeting was obviously because of the big plays they allowed on defense. The Ducks came up with eight plays for more than 25 yards, and the shocking part is six of them were for scoring drives. It’s clear where the problem is lying. But analyst Josh Pate has a different opinion altogether.

Pate said, “The trade-off is you get to the quarterback. So you affect him; maybe you force turnovers, and in the end, you don’t care that you gave up a couple of explosive plays. Because, in the aggregate, the turnovers, the pressure you forced, they were enough to where, with your own scoring potential, it tilted the game in your favor.” So, it’s pretty simple: the classic “play to win” strategy.

Well, the trade-off? Oh, it’s simple: go full throttle on the quarterback. As Josh Pate says, you put mad pressure on him; maybe even force a turnover or two. It may give up a couple of explosive plays in the process, but who cares? As you look at the bigger picture, those turnovers and the chaos you cause will be worth it. And if your offense is good enough to cash in on that, the next thing you know, the game’s tilted in your favor. Now let’s just wait and see if Ryan Day and Co. can successfully make it happen or not!