Thursday Bullet Points: Ryan Day Talks Home Field Advantage, Finally Playing a Four-Quarter Game, and Penn State's Talent Level

The Buckeyes have their biggest game of the season this week when Penn State heads to Columbus for a de facto Big Ten Championship play-in game.

Ryan Day made his final weekly media appearances on Thursday, joining 97.1 The Fan for his weekly radio show followed by his brief afternoon media availability in the team room.

Running backs coach Tony Alford also joined day for his appearance on the radio show.

Here's a breakdown.

Ryan Day Radio Show on 97.1 The Fan

Ryan Day

On turnovers

• Ryan Day said he's proud of Ohio State's turnover margin.
• "Turnovers will be key" this week.
• "The more we can create, and obviously we have to take care of the ball on offense."

On the passing game

• Day said Ohio State made a point to work on the passing game against Maryland and Rutgers to make sure they're clicking heading into this week's game.
• "We know in these games you're going to have to throw the ball."
• Day mentioned the past few years the games have come down to needing to move the ball late in the fourth quarter.

On Justin Fields' decision making

• "Every time he's out there he's doing a better job of understanding what the defense is giving him."
• Day said he's been impressed with how comfortable Justin Fields has gotten at making decisions with the ball, and when to tuck it and run.
• "You can watch it in the film room all you want, but when you do it, it becomes real."

On players not playing full games

• Day said he knows that Ohio State's dominance this season has kept some players from putting up numbers he knows they're capable of putting up because the Buckeyes have yet to play a four-quarter game.
• "You look at Dwayne's number last year and a lot of it is because we played all four quarter games."
• "They're certainly the best players in the country and their efficiency and productivity is off the charts."

On Penn State

• "He's an excellent head coach and has done a great job recruiting," Day said of James Franklin.
• Day said Penn State is "talented all over the field."
• "All three areas – they challenge you."
• "Yeah in and year out, they're really good on defense."
• "They make you work."
• Day notes Penn State plays a lot of depth, getting a lot of players in the game.

On sending the starters back out in the third quarter

• "We had to make a tough decision at halftime what to do."
• "These are huge decisions."
• Day said he didn't want to give up a touchdown and have to put the starters back in the game.

On the bench players

• Day said the backup players have played so much he has trust in his depth.
• "You don't think twice about putting them in there."

On potentially playing a four-quarter game

• Day emphasizes that this game will be different because he's not sure Ohio State has played a game where every snap has mattered.
• "Every snap matters in this game."
• Day said Ohio State is going to have to execute in all three phases.

On playing without Chase Young

• "I think they've taken it as a challenge to see where that unit's at."
• Day thinks the other players have performed will in Young's absence.
• "And time something's taken away from you, you have a new appreciation for it."

On playing Penn State ahead of the Michigan game

• "I think it's been a question that's asked of us all year: How do you not look ahead."
• "That's what being tough is," Day said of the ability to lock into each game.
• "It's not like this crept up on us. We've been prepared."
• Day compared this to March Madness
• "If you win, you move on."

On the crowd noise

• "Any time you're dealing with a no-huddle offense, it really helps when the crowd is loud."
• Day said it makes it hard for the offense to communicate.
• "On offense, that's a nightmare," Day said of trying to communicate with crowd noise.
• "If you can make it loud, it's a huge advantage for the defense."

On improving in practice

• Day said practicing against each other helps his team improve and get confidence.
• Day notes that if you can block Chase Young or get open against Jeff Okudah, you can do it against anyone in the country.
• "You know you're going against the best in the country, so you get better."

Tony Alford

On J.K. Dobbins

• Alford said that he's proud of Dobbins' numbers, but that's not what the goal is.
• "We're not out here chasing records," Alford said. "We're out here to win a championship."
• Alford said that the biggest change in Dobbins has been his decision making.

On Master Teague hearing his name chanted

• Alford joked that he was shocked when he heard the crowd chanting for the backup running back.
• "It's really neat that he's kind of making a name for himself."
• "J.K.'s excited for him – we're all excited for him."

On Saturday's game

• "We're going to have to play a four-quarter game"
• "We can't hurt ourselves with self-inflicted wounds."

On preparation for the game

• Alford said that everything that happens Saturday starts in practice.
• "To think that you're just going to walk into that stadium and play a great game..."
• "If you're not a practicer then you're not a gamer."

Ryan Day's Press Conference With The Local Media

• Day says both calling plays from the sideline and the box have positives.
• On Justin Fields running the ball in closer games: "We certainly don't want to be cavalier about his running the ball all over the place."
• He says time is limited after games to hang out due to this being a major recruiting weekend.
• Day says Ohio State drafts up a letter to send to recruits visiting about this being a major recruiting weekend and there being less time to spend with prospects.
• He says the coaches kept the same routine as they've had in the past.
• Day says J.K. Dobbins asked to play another series in the third quarter against Rutgers. However, he decided right before kickoff not to play the starting running back.
• On the defense: "There's a lot to improve on." He says this is the most talented skill group the Buckeyes have faced.
• On whether he allows non-seniors who might go to the NFL to go through senior day festivities: "We typically like to do it just for the seniors."
• Day says they'll be "shocked" if KJ Hamler and Noah Cain don't play on Saturday. 
• He says Justin Hilliard is "certainly interested" in coming back.