The Game is already in Ohio State's rearview mirror. That's the process, the routine – as Ryan Day has put it – that's brought the Buckeyes all their success in 2025.
That's why there wasn't much dwelling on the results of Saturday for Day in his joint teleconference with Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti on Sunday ahead of the Big Ten Championship Game. Ohio State collected its first piece of hardware for the season and celebrated as such last night. Now it's onto the next piece, a potential Big Ten championship, which the No. 1 Buckeyes will have to beat the No. 2 Hoosiers to claim.
Day expressed just how excited Ohio State is to be back in Indianapolis and that there's still a long road ahead for the Buckeyes to accomplish all their goals. He feels both Ohio State and Indiana should get first-round byes in the College Football Playoff after undefeated regular seasons, win or lose, but that there's a lot of value in being the No. 1 overall seed in the CFP.
On the flipside, Cignetti said Day will go down as "one of the legends of the game someday" and sees a dominant Ohio State team in all three phases. But he also feels his Indiana squad has grown since its blowout loss in Columbus last year.
Ryan Day
- Day said in his opening that the Buckeyes are "very, very excited" to go back to Indianapolis.
- On the routine of last week and whether it helped in The Game: "I think every year is different, every team is different. ... When you look at the end of the year and assess the things that you've done well and the things that you need to improve on, you have to look at what's best for your team. ... It wasn't just one thing. There were several things that we looked to on the field, off the field, all of the above. ... You want to make sure you're doing everything you can to keep the routine the routine. There's enough that goes into that game and enough emotion that goes into that game."
- Day said that "it's a long road" still left for Ohio State to achieve its final two goals: Win the Big Ten championship and win the national championship. "I've been on teams before where you're looking to make it to the playoffs or you're happy to make a bowl game, then I think you take your foot off the accelerator. ... This thing is going to the end of January is the way you have to look at it."
- On Cignetti's accomplishments at Indiana: "He's adapted to modern times. He certainly has taken a roster and turned it over quickly and brought in some really talented players. ... He's been aggressive and he's been able to turn over his roster and bring in a lot of talent in a short period of time. ... They're well-coached. They have a plan of how they want to attack you in all three phases, and they're not going to beat themselves."
- On Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza: "I've watched Mendoza play in a lot of the crossover games, I've seen a little bit of the TV copy. ... He looks very intelligent in terms of his ability to identify pre- and post-snap (defensive scheme). ... Sneaky athletic ... and he looks like a great leader to me. ... It's gonna be a great challenge for our defense."
- Ohio State continues to use a methodical pace to keep its players as healthy as possible for the long season. "The games are increasing and the roster size is getting smaller. ... Manage the workload the best we can."
- There's a lot of motivation for the Buckeyes to win their first Big Ten title since 2020. "It's been a long time since we've been to Indy and we want to win this thing."
- Ryan Day still enjoys the idea of a conference championship game, but wants to make sure it makes sense with how long a season is. "We want to be the 1 seed going into the playoffs, and that's what we're fighting for. ... I do think it's important for us to be thinking about how this game does affect the playoffs. ... And I think winning your conference is a big deal. ... It should mean something. And I think it does. But I do think, if it's gonna stay the way it is at 12 or if it's gonna expand, that it's all in alignment."
- Day does feel both teams should get a first-round bye in the CFP, win or lose. "You're not supposed to be penalized for winning a conference championship game, so I think both deserve a first-round bye. ... I think it's important to win this game and be the 1-seed, everything matters."
- On being called a future legend of the game by Cignetti and his thoughts on the opposing coach: "That's quite a compliment and I appreciate him saying that. ... Got a lot of football to coach before any of those types of conversations. One thing about Coach Cignetti, he grew up in a football family. I have a respect for the way he grew up. ... He just has a feel of the game. When you grow up in this game, you have a feel for people, you have a feel for situations. ... He's won wherever he's been. I know some people laugh at the comments, he's made, 'Google him,' but it's true. ... I've got a lot of respect for him. ... It's been great to see him as a competitor in the conference."
- The Buckeyes' players are already turning their attention to Indiana with their coach, too. "Regular season's over, now it's time to go ... we're playing for hardware. ... That's the other part about this team that I think is good. They saw the run that we went on last year. They saw what it takes."
- Day said Ohio State got a jumpstart on film study while waiting on the tarmac to take off in the team's charter plane. "The issues are still there. ... We gotta continue to make sure that we do this the right way."
- On Matt Patricia's ability to make adjustments on the fly: "Elite. He loves having the iPad, he didn't have that in the NFL. ... I think the thing is, when things are going well, OK, we talk about that. But when things don't go well ... he has the answers why. ... His communication and ability to identify what the issue is and get it addressed ... they can move on and go play the next down."
Curt Cignetti
- On Ohio State: "They're a great football team, obviously won the national championship last season. ... Ryan Day is a great coach, going to be one of the legends of the game someday. ... Dominant everywhere ... giving up the fewest amount of points in the country. ... Really good on third down, fourth down, lot of different looks, put them in different positions to make plays. ... They really haven't been challenged this year. ... Other than the Texas game, I think, 18 points is the closest point differential in all their games."
- Cignetti doesn't feel either team should be guaranteed a bye in the College Football Playoff in the case of a loss. "It's gonna be a great atmosphere. They're playing this game for a reason. ... I don't expect any handouts. We've earned everything up until this point and we've gotta earn it on Saturday."
- On what he's learned from last year's loss at Ohio State: "It was an experience that was necessary for our development. ... We were able to add some key pieces to this year's team ... and I think the guys that returned from last year's team learned a lot from Ohio State and Notre Dame (games). ... We respect Ohio State, they're a great football team. What they've done speaks for itself."
- On the explosive nature of Ohio State's offense: "Julian Sayin is a tremendous football player. He's young, but doesn't play like he's young. He's got a quick release and he's accurate. .. Jeremiah Smith is probably the best player in college football ... they've got weapons through the air to make explosive plays and they're dedicated to establishing the run. ... Sometimes when you're watching, it's almost like they're holding back a little bit."
- Cignetti acknowledged that the moment was too big for Indiana at Ohio State last season, but said his team has overcome all the challenges it's faced in 2025. He pointed to the Hoosiers' win at then-No. 3 Oregon as a sign of program growth in road games against marquee opponents.
