By Jim Naveau
jnaveau@limanews.com

COLUMBUS – How much does Ohio State want to beat Michigan on Saturday at Ohio Stadium after
losing to its rival three years in a row?
“To say that this team and those seniors and leaders want to win this game would be one of the greatest
understatements of all time,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said Tuesday at his press conference to preview
the game.
But that does not mean the No. 2 Buckeyes (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten) are focused solely on revenge against
the Wolverines (6-5, 4-4 Big Ten).
“Sometimes in a game like this it’s easy for players to try to do something extraordinary. But the only
thing that needs to be extraordinary is their effort,” Day said.
“When you live it year around you don’t need to put extra emphasis on it this week. Our guys know,
especially with a veteran team. You really only can control what you can control.”
“Focus on the process, focus on what has been done up to this point and the foundation that has been
built and then go out and play like our hair is on fire.”
On the day he was introduced as Urban Meyer’s successor in 2018, Day said he knew he faced two big
expectations as Ohio State’s coach.
“No. 1, win the rivalry game,” he said, referring to Michigan. “No. 2 win every game after that.”
In his six seasons as OSU’s head coach Day has found out just how much some Buckeyes fans care
about beating Michigan.
OSU is 66-9 with Day as its coach but 1-3 against Michigan. After a 56-27 Ohio State win in 2019, the
Wolverines have come out on top by scores of 42-27, 45-23 and 30-24 the last three years. All three of
those losses kept the Buckeyes out of the Big Ten championship game.
And watching Michigan win the national championship last season made it even worse in the minds of
Day’s critics. Some people have even suggested his job could be in jeopardy if Michigan tags him with a
fourth loss in a row this season.
Asked about the criticism and the pressure to win against Michigan, Day said, “I think you know what it
means. It means the world and it’s everything here.”
Ohio State’s two biggest tests of the season so far were a 32-31 loss at No.1 Oregon and a 20-13 win at
No. 4 Penn State.
“There’s nothing quite like this game on this stage but it has been good for us to get tested this year,”
Day said.
“We’ve gone down in game, we’ve lost a game, we’ve gone through some adversity in big games. All
that adds to the character and resilience of your team, knowing that no matter what comes at us Saturday
we know how to react. But this one’s different,” he said.