Ryan Day has gotten quite a lot of flak over his tenure at Ohio State for not profitable The Recreation. In fact, Day had gained it in his first yr, however since that first win, Michigan had turned the tables on what was a lopsided rivalry within the 2010s. Michigan appeared to win every sport by being the harder staff, pulling away late after sporting you down with onerous, bodily runs for the primary three quarters.
2025 began like a repeat of previous sins, with Michigan scoring on its first drive by ripping off chunk performs on the bottom. Then Julian Sayin adopted that up with a horrible interception, making an attempt to hit Jeremiah Smith in double protection. Over the previous few years, Michigan would’ve rolled that momentum to a detailed win — however this Ohio State staff is completely completely different.
Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith weren’t forgotten this yr, as Day was in a position to lean on his sure-handed receivers to select up essential first downs and maintain the Buckeyes on schedule all sport lengthy. Extra importantly, they have been in a position to unfold out the Michigan defensive position, which allowed Bo Jackson to have the sport of his freshman yr, totaling 166 mixed yards of offense.
One of many greatest criticisms of Day was that he wasn’t prepared to lean on his passing sport when Michigan’s defensive entrance took over in The Shoe final yr. He realized from these errors, but in addition didn’t stray away from the sluggish, methodical offense that has led them to an undefeated look within the Massive Ten Championship.
He took an enormous shot to Smith on 4th down when the sport felt shaky, after which on the finish of the half, when Ohio State couldn’t end on the bottom on the aim line once more, Day trusted Sayin and Brandon Inniss on a fast hook route over the center to offer the Buckeyes respiratory room earlier than the half. These kinds of performs have gone towards Ohio State each time since 2021, and right now they confirmed why they have been considerably higher than a median Michigan staff.
Most significantly, once you’re speaking about Ohio State this yr, it’s a must to reward this protection. They have been in bend-but-don’t-break mode within the first half, and within the second half, they turned the ’85 Bears. Michigan ran solely 18 performs within the second half and held the ball for six:20 of sport time. The Michigan offense had no solutions for the playmakers in white, and on offense, Day adopted the Jim Harbaugh script, bleeding the sport dry to drag out the win.
This Ohio State staff is clearly one of the best within the nation, however they’ll have their greatest check of the yr towards Indiana. Will the protection have the ability to decelerate one of the best offense within the nation? If right now was any preview of that matchup, then I definitely assume they may.
