As the No. 1 team in the AP Poll, Coaches Poll and CFP Rankings, all eyes are on Ohio State, but this week, Ohio State's eyes are on Purdue.
The Buckeyes travel to West Lafayette, Indiana, for a battle with Purdue at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Earlier this week, Ryan Day called Purdue head coach Barry Odom "a very, very good coach" and the Boilermakers "a very proud program."
Day continued to show respect for Purdue on Wednesday, saying his coaches and players have not taken the Boilermakers lightly as they prepare for the Big Ten matchup.
"Each week, you’ve seen them progress in all areas," Day said. "I think it’s a team that’s gotten better."
Later in the press conference, Day praised Kayden McDonald and Kenyatta Jackson Jr. but provided no update on potential injuries to Luke Montgomery, Tegra Tshabola and Josh Padilla.
Ryan Day
- On Jeremiah Smith: “We’re always trying to figure out a way to get the ball to our playmakers, certainly Jeremiah.” Day said the Buckeyes are “intentional” about how they distribute the ball on offense but also want to find “a balance.”
- Day said Purdue has improved each week in the Boilermakers’ first season under head coach Barry Odom. “If you watch the film… they’re getting better every week. I think it’s important to watch each team and figure out where they are and where they’ve come from. Each week, you’ve seen them progress in all areas.”
- Day said Purdue played well against Michigan last week. The Wolverines beat the Boilermakers 21-16 in Ann Arbor. “I thought they played really well last week. … I think it’s a team that’s gotten better. … We got to play our best. … We want to play our best every week.”
- On Ohio State's recruiting philosophy for the 2027 and 2028 classes: “We want to be aggressive and make sure we’re bringing in the right people.”
- Day wants to see some of Ohio State’s inexperienced, younger players step up against Purdue. “I think that’s the case for quite a few guys on the team.” Day said Ohio State wants to play depth as much as possible because depth will be critical for the Buckeyes down the stretch. “We’re trying to get as many guys as we can on the field.”
- Day said he wants to continue seeing Ohio State’s special teams improve. “I think it’s been solid, but we always want to be better.”
- On Kayden McDonald: “He’s a huge part of our defense. Inside out, he’s the middle of it all.” Day said McDonald is “a very important guy on our defense” and continues to mature and improve each week for the Buckeyes.
- On what has stood out about Kenyatta Jackson Jr. this season: “More confident. More confident. I think in his heart he’s always known that he can do it, but for him to actually physically do it, you can see him grow more and more in his confidence in himself and his belief in himself. … You’re seeing him produce on the field.”
- When asked to provide an injury update for Luke Montgomery, Tegra Tshabola and Josh Padilla, Day said, “No update.” Day said Ohio State’s fourth guard is Gabe VanSickle, indicating VanSickle could be in line for reps if one or more of those guards can’t play against Purdue.
- Day said he has a lot of respect for Odom. Day said he had contacted Odom in the past about potentially being Ohio State’s defensive coordinator. Day considers Odom one of the better coaches in college football.
