INDIANAPOLIS — Ohio State coach Ryan Day said Tuesday that his talented team is coping with all the expectations and pressure heading into a pivotal season. But Day added that talent alone won't get the Buckeyes their first national championship in a decade.
“We all know there's a lot of noise and a lot of hype around this team,” Day said during Big Ten media days. “And what we can't do is let those distractions distract us from what we have to do day in and day out. We know it's going to be a long season. … But we're very, very excited about our guys. We've got a lot of experience in that locker room and a lot of talent, but it's going to take more than just talent.”
Ohio State has a 56-8 record with Day as head coach. However, the Buckeyes have also lost three straight games to rival Michigan and have not won the Big Ten Conference title since 2020. Following a 30-24 win over the Buckeyes, the Wolverines won the national championship while Ohio State missed out on the playoffs.
“Anytime you're at Ohio State, you know you're going to have expectations. There's always going to be talk. There's always going to be noise,” Day said. “It's our job to ignore all that stuff and focus on what really matters. … Our guys know what the expectations are. … We're not going to shy away from them. We want to win the (Michigan) rivalry game … win this Big Ten championship, win a national championship.”
The Buckeyes enter this season as the favorites to win the Big Ten and return to the playoffs. Ohio State is loaded with preseason All-Americans, including wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, defensive lineman Tyleik Williams, running back Quinshon Judkins and safety Caleb Downs, the reigning SEC Defensive Rookie of the Year who transferred from Alabama to Ohio State in the offseason.
“Whenever I've played a season at Ohio State … you expect to win every game,” Day said. “That's just the way it is. And if you don't think you're going to win every game, try losing a game at Ohio State. You're expected to win every game. So that's nothing new. We welcome that.”
