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What Ryan Day said following Ohio State’s win over Rutgers
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Improving to 3-0, the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, 49-27, on Saturday in Columbus.
Taking a 35-3 lead into the halftime break, junior quarterback Justin Fields continued to state his Heisman Trophy case, completing 24-of-28 passes for 314 yards and five touchdowns, while adding seven yards and another score on the ground.
Sophomore wide receiver Garrett Wilson was the largest beneficiary of Fields’ performance, hauling in six passes for 104 yards and a touchdown. A product of Lake Travis High School in Austin, Texas, Wilson has now reached 100 yards in each game this season.
Despite the 22-point victory, head coach Ryan Day identified some areas worthy of improvement postgame, focusing on the second half, where Rutgers outscored the Buckeyes, 24-14.
Ryan Day at the postgame podium now.
“The second half, just didn't play very great.” Said the Buckeyes should have been able to pull away in the third quarter so they could put their backups in the game, but that didn't happen. Thinks they let off the gas after 35-3 first half. pic.twitter.com/515bJ0Vu9e
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) November 8, 2020
Day said one thing Ohio State needs to strive for is to “become an even better practice team, in all three phases.”
“For us to come out the way we did was great. Just disappointed about the second half.”
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) November 8, 2020
"We have to practice better if we want to be a great team." — Ryan Day
— Kyle Rowland (@KyleRowland) November 8, 2020
Two of the Scarlet Knights’ four touchdowns came on trick plays, and Day said he had never seen a team attempt so much trickery in a single game.
Asked Ryan Day if he's ever seen as many trick plays in a game as Rutgers attempted tonight.
“No. Especially those onside kicks, it was like a New York sidewalk.” Said the Buckeyes were expecting Rutgers to be creative on special teams, though.
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) November 8, 2020
The second-year coach left his team will a message designed to push them to reach their maximum potential.
Ryan Day: “Any conference win is a good win … but we're critical. That's a good thing. We want perfection. We're looking for greatness.”
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) November 8, 2020
Ohio State will hit the road for the second time this year on November 14 when they battle the Maryland Terrapins at 3:30 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network.
A graduate of Bowling Green State University, Rydquist has been contributing to Saturday Down South and Saturday Tradition since 2019. He can be found on Twitter @TeddyRydquist.