Ryan Day and his staff are aware of the stakes for their second-ranked team as they prepare for their upcoming game. 8-1! So far they have dominated their opponents, but they still have plenty of football to play. Last Saturday, they overpowered Purdue (45-0) and did not even let them into the game. However, they must win all the remaining games to keep their playoff hopes alive. Ohio State has lost only one Big Ten game, which finds them in a favorable position. So far, Ryan Day has made all the good decisions, expecting a little room for error following a narrow 32-31 loss to Oregon last month. But never mind, they are on a three-game winning streak, and it looks like the head coach already has plans to continue this momentum.

On November 15, Joel Klatt, an analyst for Fox Sports, revealed Ryan Day’s one more decision this season, which has gone well for the team (so far).

“Ryan is not calling plays,” Klatt said, highlighting how the Buckeyes HC added a significant shift to their strategy and performance.“In the past, they kind of were what they were on both sides of the ball the entire year. This year, I have seen them change and adapt. Based on the way that the season has gone, I think that the offense looks a little different now than it did prior to the Oregon game, and the defense looks a little bit different now than it did after the Oregon game. Because of that, I’m just reminded that Ryan made the decision to step away from play-calling duties,” Klatt said.

The Oregon game Klatt mentions between the current No. 1 and No. 2 saw the Buckeyes travel to the Autzen Stadium on October 12. If not for a late (and questionable) pass interference call on the Buckeyes WR Jeremiah Smith, Ryan Day’s team could have won that game as well. Since then, they had a close shave against the Cornhuskers but overpowered Penn State and Purdue.

In his decade-long experience of covering college football (eight years of covering the Big 10 conference), Joel Klatt has spotted

something unique about the Buckeyes this season. “This is the first time that I’ve noticed that during the course, in particular late in the season, I’m seeing these adjustments from them from a schematic standpoint from a philosophical standpoint on both sides of the ball and to me, that’s a little bit different this year,” the Fox analyst said.

That all comes down to Ryan Day and his staff learning from their mistakes. We’ll have to wait and see how far that takes them this season. They have a tough match-up coming against the Hoosiers (10-0) in Week 13. Before that can happen, another challenge awaits them.

Ryan Day prepares his players for Wrigley field

Since Ohio State’s game timings against the Northwestern Wildcats (4-5) were announced, fans have shown their frustration and disappointment. They are fed up with the noon games. They (rightly) feel that they deserve a prime slot after eight victories. Do you agree? On Tuesday, head coach Ryan Day had a conversation with the media, and he emphasized the importance of familiarizing his players with his unique venue before their next matchup.

He highlighted that understanding the field is very important, and they cannot afford any mistakes in Week 12. “I’d like for them to see the makeup of it; I want them to see the turf. I want them to feel where the infield is filled in with the sod. I’d like for them to see how we are going to handle halftime; we’re going to be in the bullpen and not going up into the locker room. There’s just some different things I’d like for them to see.” 

Buckeyes are going to play their next game on Wrigley Field, which is a popular stadium and has hosted games since 1938. Day is aware of the challenges that will be presented by the venue, and he wants to make sure that his players are fully prepared. Whether making play-calling changes or trying to get his players fully prepared, Ryan Day is also about fine details. In a highly competitive space like college football, that can take you past that final hurdle.