Ryan Day details importance of matching Georgia's physicality

As Ryan Day and his Ohio State team ramp up for their College Football Playoff matchup on New Year’s Eve against Georgia, they know and understand that physicality will be a key component in the game if they want to be successful. Day spoke about this, and other factors that will be of the utmost importance as they count down the days before Saturday’s kickoff.

“Well the good news is we have great experience being in this style of a game, this is our third time playing in the CFP in the last four years,” Day said. “But we have some really good examples to draw upon of what is going to transpire in this game so we’ve been talking to our guys about how, first off, just how much excitement there’s gonna be at the stadium.”

The stage will be set for the Buckeyes and the Bulldogs to square off in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta this weekend, just 71 miles away from the University of Georgia’s campus. The environment for any playoff game is guaranteed to be a lively one, but adding the proximity to Georgia’s fanbase into the mix will make for one worth preparing for if you’re the Buckeyes.

“The atmosphere, the electricity, and how when you’re in games like this every yard is a fight, every first down, every point, is gonna be that way. So we’ve been preparing that way, we’ve been practicing that way and we’ll continue to do that throughout the week because we know what a challenge we have here,” Day said.

Day also emphasized the importance of his more experienced players in this matchup, not only for the role they play as leaders but the significance of them playing at their highest level.

“But when you get into the CFP certainly there’s just a certain level that we have to make sure we’re preparing for and I think our guys have been doing that and they’re working hard and the leadership is gonna have to play really well in this game,” Day said. “Our older guys, our veteran guys are going to have to lead the way, because we know in big games like this veterans have to play veterans.”

The No. 1 ranked Bulldogs are ranked that high for a reason, as they’re undefeated and looking to keep it that way in route to another National Championship victory. Day and the Buckeyes know what it will take to dethrone the defending champs, now it’s just about practicing it this week and executing on Saturday on one of college football’s biggest stages.

“So certainly have a great challenge and a great opponent in Georgia, we know that, they have a lot of great weapons. Certainly, they play a high level of football, they’re defending national champs, and certainly undefeated this year so we know what we’re up against and we’ll continue to prepare for that and certainly looking forward to this week as we head into Saturday,” Day said.