Skip to main content

Ryan Day Recaps Rose Bowl vs Oregon

by:Linden Hile01/01/25
jeremiah-smith-doubles-down-on-boasts-about-ohio-state-offense-following-rose-bowl-win
© Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Ohio State coach Ryan Day took questions from media following the Buckeyes’ 41-21 demolition of Oregon. Below are the most notable questions and quotes from Day’s press conference as well as my thoughts at the end.


On what today’s performance says about Offensive Coordinator Chip Kelly:

“I thought Chip called a great game and the whole offensive staff worked hard to put the plan together. Ultimately it comes down to players putting it on the field and came out aggressively, certainly had a big smile on his face after.”

On receiver Jeremiah Smith‘s impact this season:

“I think we always want to draw comparisons and it’s easy to say he’s this person and categorize them based on someone who’s come before. I think the way he’s come in and wanted to make an impact as a freshman but to me it’s the work ethic every day and he doesn’t say a lot but when he does people listen.”

On the team’s recent improvement in big games:

“Every game is big at Ohio State and we knew that when we came. This game is huge for a lot of reasons but the most important for our team is that we got to play together for another week.”

“When you lose you have to learn how to move forward but when you recruit great people, you stick together.”

On knowing there’s more football to be played:

“We literally are taking it one week at a time but we’re fighting to keep this team together because we have a great group of guys. We have a lot of respect for Oregon and coach Lanning, they’re very good and well-coached and it’ll be the same thing next week.”

On edge defender Jack Sawyer‘s performance in the last two games:

“Can’t say enough about Jack as a leader and as a person. He stands for what it means to be a Buckeye.”

“He’s the heart and soul of the front, he brings his hardhat and lunch pail and goes to work. It’s showing late in the season and he’s a big reason we won today.”


Linden’s Take:

It would be hard not to be a little gleeful after a performance like this but Day seemed very focused on simply crediting players and moving onto the next game. He’s taken a lot of heat this year for losses to Oregon and Michigan but the team has responded in spectacular fashion over the last two games.

I’d argue the Buckeyes at their peak are the best team in college football and games like this are why. Opponents should be quite concerned about this team over the coming weeks.


You may also like