Ryan Day didn’t dance around the biggest question from Ohio State’s loss to Texas. Looking back at the 24-23 defeat, he said the Buckeyes probably should have let the Longhorns score on that final drive rather than try to stonewall them at the goal line.
“Well, it didn’t work, so the answer is yes,” Day said Tuesday.
That moment came after Texas had marched to the 1-yard line on a 19-yard catch with 1:23 left. Day had to choose between conceding the touchdown and giving Ohio State more than a minute to chase a winning field goal, or trusting the defense to keep Texas out.
He went with the latter. Texas eventually scored on third down with 25 seconds remaining, leaving Ohio State precious little time to respond.
Day said after the game that the call came down to belief in his defense. On Tuesday, he made it clear the decision is going to stay with him.
“If we won the game, it would’ve been the right decision. But in the moment I think you have to make a hard decision, and I decided to try and hold the line,” Day said.
“I made the decision, talked it over with (defensive coordinator) Matt (Patricia), and that was the decision we made. We will have to think about it when it happens again.”
The Buckeyes also spent Tuesday sorting through how much more they can get from their younger players after a Week 1 game plan built around beating Texas first and figuring out the rest later.
Freshman cornerback Jay Timmons was one of the few young players who made a real imprint, logging 60 snaps according to Pro Football Focus. But several others barely got on the field. Freshman receivers Chris Henry Jr. and Brock Boyd each played fewer than 15 snaps, while freshman defensive lineman Khary Wilder saw only four snaps, despite producing two pressures.
Day said that will change.
“Khary is a guy we have to find out ways to get them into the game,” Day said.
Second-year linebacker Riley Pettijohn is also expected to see more work, and Day said Ohio State’s young talent across all three phases - especially on offense and defense - should keep getting more opportunities as conference play approaches.
“We have some really good young players on all three phases, specifically offense and defense, that are going to play on both sides of the ball more often as we move into conference play,” Day said. “We looked at it like, ‘We have this game here Week 2. We do everything we can to win that game and move on from there.’”
Day also addressed two fourth-down calls that drew plenty of attention. He confirmed that while Arthur Smith is now running the offense, those decisions still run through him.
Before the game, Day told Smith he wanted to be aggressive on fourth-and-3 or shorter early. That approach showed up in the second quarter when Ohio State faced fourth-and-2 from the Texas 12. The Buckeyes lined up in 13 personnel with three tight ends and one receiver, then ran inside with Ja’Kobi Jackson and got stopped at the line.
Later, with Ohio State ahead 20-3 and facing fourth-and-4 from the Texas 39 on the opening drive of the second half, Day chose a pooch punt instead of keeping the drive alive. Joe McGuire’s punt traveled 26 yards and sent Texas back to its own 13.
“I felt like we could pin them in,” Day said. “I don’t think we did a very good job executing the pooch punt.”
That decision didn’t sit well with plenty of Ohio State fans, especially with an offense that had already been in the red zone on its previous five drives and featured a returning quarterback, Jeremiah Smith at receiver and plenty of other weapons. Day said he still believes the Buckeyes can control games on offense, but he also drew a clear line on execution.
“Either we have to execute that better, or we have to go for it. That’s the bottom line,” Day said.
“I still think Joe can do a better job of it. We’ll work on it again today.
If it gets to the point where we aren’t executing it well enough, then we have to make other decisions.”
Day also offered an injury update after Ohio State lost two starters in the Texas game: defensive end Zion Grady and right tackle Phillip Daniels. He said neither injury is expected to be long-term, and he hopes both players will be available for Saturday’s game against Kent State.
In Other News...
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Ohio States loss to Texas did more than dent the Buckeyes early-season momentum. It also spilled a little of the programs internal frustration into public view, as three freshmen used social media to air dissatisfaction with their roles and limited opportunities, a jarring development for a team that is still trying to settle itself after an important defeat.
Jerquaden Guilford, Brock Boyd and Bey were among the players whose posts drew attention, with language that pointed to a desire for more involvement. For a staff already sorting through a disappointing result, it adds a fresh layer of concern about buy-in and roster harmony, even if there has been no official response yet. [Read more 🡒]
Arch Manning Just Added New Controversy To Texas' Win Over Ohio State
Texas win over No. 1 Ohio State already had enough postgame baggage after Steve Sarkisian abruptly cut off ESPN reporter Holly Rowe during a brief on-field exchange. The moment itself was awkward enough, but it quickly became a bigger talking point once a fake AI-generated video of Sarkisian slapping Rowe started making the rounds online, giving the upset a strange and unnecessary afterlife beyond the scoreboard.
Arch Manning then poured fuel on the reaction when he weighed in on the clip during a Monday exchange, describing it as hilarious. The comment drew immediate criticism on social media, with some users calling for apologies and public statements from both Manning and Sarkisian, turning a celebratory Texas moment into another reminder of how fast a viral postgame clip can shift the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Needs More Than A Win Against Kent State
Ohio State gets a chance to reset at home this week against Kent State, with the Buckeyes coming off the Week 2 loss to Texas and looking for a cleaner showing on both sides of the ball. The matchup will be carried on FOX and streaming platforms, and on paper it gives Ohio State a comfortable spot to get back on track while working through some of the issues that showed up last time out.
The bigger value here may be less about the result and more about what the Buckeyes can take from it, especially on offense. A lopsided win would be welcome, but Ohio State needs a performance that helps settle the unit, builds confidence after the setback and gives the coaches a better feel for where this team is headed as the schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]