At some point last season, Ryan Day realized that it would be in Ohio State's best interest to slow the pace of the game down.
While a fast-paced game is much more fun, slowing the game down and playing fewer plays allows players to conserve energy as much as possible as Ohio State strives to play a 16- or 17-game season again.
Last season, Ohio State's offense averaged 62.41 plays per game, 123rd in the FBS. During its four-game run in the inaugural 12-team CFP, the Buckeyes' offense averaged only 60 plays per game.
With OSU dominating the way it has so far this season, the pace of play has been a frequent talking point in Columbus. Through eight games this season, Ohio State is averaging 61.5 offensive plays per game, 130th in the country.
| OFFENSE | DEFENSE | TOTAL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 REGULAR SEASON | 62.41 | 58.8 | 121.5 |
| 2024 CFP | 60.0 | 66.5 | 126.5 |
| 2025 SEASON | 61.5 | 57.25 | 118.75 |
Part of this is due to the Buckeyes' efficiency on offense and dominance on defense. The other part is that Day, Brian Hartline, and co. are purposely playing at a slower pace to conserve their team's energy and ensure they are as healthy and as fresh as possible in late November, December, and January.
It's a trend where the number of plays has continued to decrease for Ohio State throughout the Day era. While clock changes in college football certainly have played a part in the game slowing down a bit overall, it's clear that the Buckeyes have changed their play style and pace of play to conserve their energy and save their best for last as the years have gone on, especially with the expanded CFP.
| YEAR | OFFENSE | DEFENSE | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 76.4 (15th) | 62.9 | 139.3 |
| 2020* | 71.3 (70th) | 68.6 | 139.9 |
| 2021 | 70.5 (63rd) | 69.9 | 140.5 |
| 2022 | 67.4 (99th) | 62.1 | 129.5 |
| 2023 | 63.9 (118th) | 63.7 | 127.6 |
| 2024 | 61.8 (126th) | 60.8 | 122.6 |
| 2025 | 61.5 (130th) | 57.3 | 118.8 |
Ohio State ranks 130th in the country in offensive plays per game this season. Only Cincinnati, Wisconsin, Central Michigan, Miami (Ohio), Kent State and Nevada have averaged fewer plays per game this year. Every other team in the top 25 of this year’s initial CFP rankings has played at least 61.8 offensive snaps per game, with Utah (74.8), Virginia (74.2) and Texas Tech (73.6) leading the charge by a wide margin. Indiana, the No. 2-ranked team in the country, averages 70.2 offensive plays per game.
While many variables could go into this, including how many snaps the starters play in each respective team, one thing remains clear: Ohio State's pace, or lack thereof, is intentional. While this means that the Buckeyes must be efficient with their drives, OSU has done just that dating back to the start of the College Football Playoff last December.
And if an opponent decides to try and speed the game up a bit or if Ohio State must do so to win a game, the Buckeyes are prepared to do so.
"Efficiency is what we're after. Because when you're efficient and you're playing like that, a three-score game can feel like it is way out of reach," Day said on Thursday." Where I feel like maybe in the past it was like, okay, we're just getting started on the game. But that's how you control the game, being able to run the football. And, you know, when it's time to turn up the gas, we will."
Even though Ohio State has played among the fewest offensive snaps in the FBS, the Buckeyes are 33rd in the country in scoring, averaging 31.9 points per game. Efficiency, indeed.
Much like OSU has through its last 12 games, it can adapt to any style of play it needs to in order to come away with a victory. It's just that right now, Ohio State's dominance allows it to also play fewer snaps on both sides of the ball, which could pay dividends in the long run.
