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Ryan Day talks rematch with Wisconsin, Ohio State injuries and focusing on B1G title game
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A day after Ohio State secured a perfect regular season with a 56-27 win over Michigan, Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day has to shift his focus to the B1G Championship Game and a rematch with Wisconsin in Indianapolis.
Sunday afternoon, Day was on the B1G Championship Game coaches teleconference to talk about the rematch with the Badgers next Saturday. Ohio State played Wisconsin in late October, recording a 38-7 win in Columbus.
Day previewed the matchup, talking about what Wisconsin did well in the first meeting, and comparing the rematch to a second game between division opponents at the NFL level.
OSU coach Ryan Day on teleconference about Wisconsin: "They played us really hard in the first game they're really well-coached."
— Nathan Baird (@nwbaird) December 1, 2019
Day on challenge of playing a team for the second time: "It's kind of like when you're in the NFL and you play a team twice in the division."
— Bill Rabinowitz 🗞 (@brdispatch) December 1, 2019
On Saturday, Ohio State improved to 12-0 this season with an eighth-straight win over Michigan. But the Buckeyes had their B1G East title wrapped up a week earlier in a 28-17 win over Penn State.
Day said preparing for the B1G Championship Game a week after a huge win on the road will be a tough test for his team.
Day on having to get ready after such an emotional game: "To say it's not a challenge would not be accurate."
— Bill Rabinowitz 🗞 (@brdispatch) December 1, 2019
Some of the primary concerns heading into the B1G Championship Game are injury related. Star quarterback Justin Fields was dinged up against Michigan, and defensive stars Shaun Wade and Damon Arnette are also in question heading into the weekend.
Day provided some updates on a few key Buckeyes.
OSU coach Ryan Day said there was no question about Justin Fields' status last week. "He'll get rehabbed this week and be fine."
Fields said he suffered a sprained MCL in his left knee against Penn State and aggravated said injury against Michigan.
— Nathan Baird (@nwbaird) December 1, 2019
OSU coach Ryan Day said Shaun Wade was close to playing at Michigan. Sounds optimistic he can play vs. Wisconsin.
— Nathan Baird (@nwbaird) December 1, 2019
Asked whether Damon Arnette will be ready to play this week after leaving yesterday's game due to injury, Ryan Day said "we'll see as the week goes on."
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) December 1, 2019
Ohio State is trying to win its third-straight B1G title. The Buckeyes have met Wisconsin twice in Indianapolis, owning a 2-0 lead over the Badgers in the B1G Championship Game. Ohio State won the 2014 game 59-0 and the 2017 contest 27-21.
A win this season and Ohio State would be the first B1G team to win three-straight B1G titles since the league expanded into two divisions.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB