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Game Thread For the Natty vs Notre Dame, Jan. 20th, 7:30 ET on ESPN

This isn't a big deal, it's just a personal pet peeve, but it annoys me when people say things like Ohio St wouldn't have made the playoffs in the old system. This goes for any team, not just OSU. Games are different when factors are different. If the tun game is do or die, that is a different game. They play different and probably win in a do or die setting. It's the same thing when NFL teams miss the playoffs by 1 game and say man if only we had beaten the Bears in week 6 we would have made the playoffs. Well, if you didn't lose week 6, maybe you don't lock in and win week 7. etc

we wouldn't have made it in the 2014 season either. but 10 years later nobody cares or questions whether that was 'legit'
 
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Put Simon on Leonard, like they did against Gabriel and I think that will help with the QB run.

Moving the pocket more than they did with Tex and create confusion. Take what the D gives you.

Hopefully, the Oline gives Howard enough time to go through the progressions.

Get back to better perimeter blocking.

SIAP: Simon? I think that they actually spread the LBs wider and played a variation on a Tampa Two by bringing Downs 10-12 off the LOS… so a bit deeper than a LB but no so deep that he can’t be involved in the run game.
 
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“We've come all this way, but it means really nothing if we don't finish it the right way and win this last one. I mean, it's the national championship. I would hope that we don't need much more motivation than that.”– Will Howard on Ohio State preparing for the title game

“I think it shows our offensive line is resilient and tough. We look adversity in the eye and we just say, ‘F you, we’re gonna do it.’”– Josh Fryar on Ohio State’s offensive line room overcoming critical injuries

“Clearly, I’ve picked good schools.”– Lorenzo Styles Jr. on Ohio State and Notre Dame playing each other in the national championship game

“He's an awesome coach. He's the best coach I've ever had, so all glory to him.”– Will Kacmarek on Ryan Day

“Jeremiah helps us as much as we help Jeremiah. Coming out, we didn’t think they’d bracket him because we thought they’d trust their DBs to play us straight up. But then they came out and bracketed him and everyone else had to win and do their job. That’s exactly what we did. When JJ does his job, it opens it up for us, when we do our job, it opens it up for JJ.”– Carnell Tate on how much Jeremiah Smith’s presence helps the other wideouts on OSU

“You gotta match their physicality, you gotta match their will.”– Sonny Styles on what Ohio State needs to do against Notre Dame

Just sayin': Click on the link to see the entire interviews with the 6 players.
 
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Here's a lightning-fast recap of the press conference:
  • On Carnell Tate stepping up in the Cotton Bowl: "You need everybody. ,,, Carnell has played good football for us all year. ... We're gonna need him in this game as well. ... You could see him all season getting better and better."
  • On Ohio State being fresh for the national championship game, strength coach Mickey Marotti: "Can't say enough. In the offseason, we talked a lot about this. ... We knew it was gonna be a long haul. ... Mick, to me, is the best there is in the business."
  • On what has impressed him the most about Will Howard this season: "Leadership. Leadership. Certainly, his performance has been excellent, but it's leadership to me. ... The way that Will can take the team on his shoulders and not only lead the way but pump guys up.
  • Day said relinquishing playcalling to Chip Kelly was "the right thing to do" for Ohio State to have success this season. Day said he's been more involved with game plans and schematics in the playoff than in the regular season. "During the playoffs, I can tell you, full disclosure, I have been very involved with it all. ... But it was the right thing to do. ... We got to be at our best."
  • On Ohio State's offensive line: "It's been a group that has had a lot of different combinations all year. It's become a very resilient group. ... They've got to finish the job. ... Those guys need to have a good week of practice. ... I think Justin and that whole group has stuck together, and because of that, they've become stronger in the back end and that needs to pay off in this game."
  • When asked about the pressure of winning a national title at Ohio State as a season-long favorite, Day said he hasn't given much thought to it. "All that matters is winning this game right now. ... Pressure, whatever you call it, the way you continue to work in those moments is to focus on right now."
  • Day said "there's a reference point" to use against Notre Dame having played the Irish in 2022 and 2023. Day said the Buckeyes didn't have that benefit when facing Tennessee or Texas earlier in the College Football Playoff. He hopes the Buckkeyes can use their familiarity to their advantage in the national championship game.
  • Day said execution will be critical for Ohio State to beat Notre Dame. "How we want this to turn out will be based on our execution."
  • On Luke Montgomery: "Every day in practice, you see a guy who brings it. ... You're feeling him on the field. ... You're seeing him in big moments step up. ... He's gonna need to in this game. ... This will be a big game for him."
  • Day said Ohio State can't leave anything to chance in the national championship game. "You've got to leave no doubt. ... We've got to finish this thing the right way. ... It's gonna be a battle."
  • On Will Howard: "In a short period of time, he's had a huge impact on Ohio State. ... I know he wants to finish this thing the right way. ... He's excited about playing in this one."
Just sayin': Click on the link to see the entire interview.
 
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