Game Thread Ball State at tOSU, Sat. Sept. 5th, 12:30 ET BTN
- By ScriptOhio
- 2026 Football Season Capsule
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Ryan Day
On Ohio State’s preparation for the season opener
- “It’s been really hot this week, which has been great.”
- “The last two practices have been really good.”
- Day said the practices have been physical.
- “I think everybody in the country right now would tell you they’re excited to play somebody.”
On his expectations entering the Ball State game
- “At this level, you have your family and you have football. That’s really what you got.”
- “All that matters is how you play on Saturdays.”
- Day said being a Champion and doing your job are the top goals for Ohio State’s players against Ball State.
On the heat in Columbus this week, weather during games
- “We have to prepare for that part of it.”
- Day said the weather doesn’t matter on Saturdays because “it’s the same for both teams.”
- “These games are gonna have to be won in the fourth quarter this season.”
- Day said the hot weather has made the players push through adversity at the end of practice, which should benefit the team in close games this year.
- Day said he liked that Ohio State had the opportunity to practice in the rain during the preseason.
On Arthur Smith and Cortez Hankton, Ohio State’s new coaches
- “Time will tell.”
- “It’s all been very positive, but now we got to put it on the field.”
- “I’ve been very impressed with our staff this year and the type of people we’ve added to the program.”
- “The chemistry of the staff is very, very important.”
- Day said he wants “alignment” with his staff and players as he continues building the Ohio State program. Day said that’s why he spends so much time teaching the staff and players about Ohio State football's history and standards.
On new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith
- Day said “it’s been great” to work with Arthur Smith since the spring.
- Day said the chemistry within Ohio State’s offense has been good this preseason.
- Day looks forward to speaking with Smith tomorrow and finalizing an offensive game plan for how to attack the Cardinals on Saturday.
On Ohio State’s depth
- Day said Ohio State’s players have worked hard to earn playing time on Saturday. “Hopefully we get a bunch of them in the game on Saturday.”
- Day is pleased with Ohio State’s depth at all positions, especially at defensive tackle. “I think all those guys are gonna play.”
- Day said he hopes to rotate players and keep everyone fresh during the season opener.
On Arthur Smith calling plays from the field
- “He’s always been down there, really.”
- “I think he said he tried one game and didn’t like it.”
- “He likes to be down there.”
- “I think for him to be down there with the players is important.”
- Day said Ohio State’s coaches will have to communicate well for the players to have success. Access to tablets has helped with that process, Day said.
On Ohio State navigating a difficult schedule this season
- Day said Ohio State is used to playing in big games year after year.
- “Big games are not new to Ohio State this year.”
- Day said how Ohio State practices, plays and adapts this season will matter the most as the Buckeyes play in matchup games this fall.
- “Everybody is fired up to get on the field. Our focus is on Ball State right now and playing really, really hard.”
On Ohio State’s tempo offensively
- “I think you’ll see Arthur mixing it up a little bit more this year. I think he’s got a really good plan on how he wants to utilize that. It’s been good to see. I think the guys understand how he sees that part of it. We’ll continue to evolve as time goes on.”
- “You got to use it as a weapon. It’s one thing he really came in and felt strongly about. We’ll typically be in the huddle a lot of times, but there are a lot of different ways that we can change up the cadence, change up the tempo, move quickly — and it’s not just the same tempo all the time with him. And the guys have really bought into that. And you can feel, just being over with Matt and the defense, how that can apply pressure in certain areas, not quite knowing when they’re gonna speed up, slow down.”
- We’ll kind of see based on game plan, based on situation and the game. Arthur has got a great experience doing that. There are some different things that we’ve done in the past here that he’s talked about utilizing. We’ll look at it and continue to figure out what gives us the best chance that week.”
On Julian Sayin’s growth, his relationship with Arthur Smith
- Day said he was impressed by how Sayin treated this offseason and his development and growth as a quarterback.
- Day said “it’s been fun to watch” Sayin and Arthur Smith work together.
- “I’m looking forward to seeing him do some new things.”
On Ohio State’s youth potentially playing against Ball State
- “A lot of these guys need to get on the field and make some plays.”
- “Until you start doing that, you start to feel yourself in the Horseshoe making plays as a young player, you haven’t done it before.”
- “We were saying that about Julian last year.”
- Day said it will happen with some of Ohio State’s younger players on Saturday.
On Ohio State’s offensive line
- “The most depth, I think, since I’ve been here, so that gives you a little bit of peace of mind.”
- “But what matters is the five guys that roll out there and play.”
- “I think there’s a good chemistry about those guys in terms of the way they’re working and hopefully we see multiple guys in the game on Saturday.”
On the new turf at Ohio Stadium
- Day said the turf “seems to be” a better surface than the previous one.
- “Like I said before, it was Jeremiah-approved.”
- “From the guys, the early responses have been positive.”
On new special teams coach Robby Discher
- “I think the guys enjoy his preparation.”
- “Everyone is involved in special teams, including myself.”
- “He comes in prepared. He has a good plan. He has a good way about teaching.”
- Day said Ohio State’s specialists “know how important their job is.”
On Ohio State’s specialists
- Day said he’s appreciated long snapper Dalton Riggs’ mature approach.
- Day said Connor Hawkins behaves similarly. “Very serious about his business.”
- Day said Joe McGuire “has put on some muscle, so he’s got a little more pop in his leg than last year, so that’s been good to see.”
- Day said Cooper Peterson and Marcello Diomede have also performed well.
- “It’s been a good group so far.”
- “I think the guys respect the work that they’re putting in.”
- “All that matters is the ball goes through the pipes and the snap gets back, we punt the ball and get some good yardage on it.”
On Ohio State’s explosiveness on offense, special teams
- Day said Ohio State, like every team, is striving to be more explosive on offense.
- Day said Cortez Hankton has really spent a lot of time on yards after the catch with Ohio State’s wide receivers.
- Day said Ohio State is also striving to be more explosive in the return game. He said Legend Bey has “a big responsibility” to return kicks and take care of the football. Brandon Inniss will be back on kick returns with Bey, Day said.
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