Ohio State’s season opener did what it was supposed to do: beat Ball State soundly, get to 1-0, and turn the page toward Texas.
That was the message Ryan Day delivered after the Buckeyes’ blowout win in Columbus, where the focus quickly shifted from the expected romp to the bigger test waiting next week. Day said the team’s approach all summer was built with that trip in mind, and he didn’t hide the fact that the minute this one was over, the next one was already on deck.
“The minute we leave the locker room, it’s onto Texas.”
Before that, though, Day spent time on what his team showed against Ball State and where it still has work to do. The offensive plan, he said, centered on getting Jeremiah Smith the ball, and Smith handled that load well. Day also noted that Smith was rested in the second half, which opened the door for younger players to get more snaps.
The run game, meanwhile, left Day wanting more early.
“Coming into halftime, I don’t think anybody would’ve said the run game looked great. But that’s why you play a whole game of football.”
He said the Buckeyes need to build confidence there in the second half while also studying the film to sort out what went wrong.
Quarterback rotation was another point of discussion. Luke Fahey took the second quarterback reps, and Day said the plan was to split the series between the two backups.
“I thought they both came in and played well, we were hoping to split the series with them and that happened.”
He said the staff will keep evaluating that situation and move forward from there.
Day also addressed the debut of Legend Bey, whose kickoff return decision twice drew his frustration.
On that play, Day said the mistake “can’t happen,” adding, “Nobody felt worse than Legend on that.” Even so, he said the talent is obvious and praised Bey’s attitude when corrected.
There was also plenty to take from the wide receiver room beyond the top names. Day pointed to the effort from Chris Henry Jr. and Brock Boyd on long rushing plays, saying the staff is aware of what lies ahead on the schedule and that those kinds of plays are worth building on.
Up front, Day said Ohio State’s offensive line shuffle remains a work in progress, but the Buckeyes like the flexibility they have. He said the competition for jobs is still alive, and that the staff was able to identify issues quickly after reviewing Ball State’s stunts and other looks.
“That’s why it was good to play this game before we went to Texas.”
Defensively, Day touched on how deep he wants to go with his rotation. He said there have been times in the past when the level of play dipped sharply once the starters came off the field, and that the current challenge is figuring out just how far the team can push that depth.
“There's been times in the past, there was a dip in the level of play that was significant (when the starters came out). That’s a good thing.
How deep do we need to go? That’s something we need to continually look at.”
And now the spotlight turns to the road trip Day and his team have been building toward all summer.
“Obviously a great opponent, they have really great talent across the board. Going down there is something we’ve been working towards all summer.
It’s going to be a great environment, but it’s something we’re going to have to do this year. Our offseason was all designed around this.”
In Other News...
Ohio States Receiver Rotation Just Got More Complicated Before Week 1
Ohio States receiver picture got a little murkier heading into Week 1 after Kyle Parker was ruled out for the opener against Ball State because of an injury. Ryan Day had already flagged Parker as dealing with a minor issue, and now the Buckeyes will have to open the season without one of the players in their wideout mix.
Chris Henry Jr. and Brock Boyd are among the receivers expected to get more snaps with Parker unavailable, which only adds another layer to a position group already under the microscope in camp. For a team trying to sort out roles early, even a short-term absence can matter, and this one gives Ohio State an early look at its depth before the real tests arrive. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State's Week 1 Start Just Added Fuel To A Huge Debate
Ohio States season opener did plenty to reinforce why the Big Ten already feels like the league to beat, with Julian Sayin looking sharp in his first extended action and the Buckeyes setting the tone early against Ball State. Across the conference, Indiana also came out strong behind new quarterback Josh Hoover, while Rutgers, Michigan State and Nebraska each left a little more uncertainty on the board after mixed openings.
Curt Cignettis postgame comments about the Big Ten being superior to the SEC only added to a debate that has been simmering for months, and former Ohio State coach Urban Meyers praise for the leagues strength gave it even more oxygen. For Buckeyes fans, the opening weekend was less about settling anything outright than about reminding everyone that Ohio State is already in the middle of a bigger argument about where the sports best football is being played. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Opener Made One Position Battle A Lot More Interesting
Ohio States season opener looked comfortable on the scoreboard, a 56-3 win that still left enough rough edges to keep the coaching staff busy. Jeremiah Smith delivered the kind of opening performance that reminds everyone why he is already such a focal point of the offense, piling up 151 yards and two touchdowns on eight catches, and Devin McCuin also made his mark as the Buckeyes worked through stretches of inconsistency on both sides of the ball.
One of the more intriguing takeaways came away from the spotlight plays, where freshman Legend Bey flashed enough on offense to suggest there is something to build on. His night also came with some costly special teams errors, though, and that is the kind of detail that can reshape how quickly a young player gets trusted in bigger moments. At quarterback, the depth chart also appeared to settle a little further, with Tavien St. Clair looking more like he is chasing the No. 3 job than threatening the top of the line behind Julian Sayin. [Read more 🡒]