Ryan Day: 'November is very different in the Big Ten'

Appearing on his weekly radio show on 97.1 The Fan for the first time since his team received the No. 1 spot in the initial College Football Playoff rankings, Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day is proud of where his team is at, but knows this group still has a lot of work to do.

Bill Rabinowitz of The Columbus Dispatch shared some comments from Day:

Day: "This is where we wanted to be at this point. But November is very different in the Big Ten than it is early on. You have to deal with the elements. You have to be tough that way." Said bull's-eye on chest makes toughness even more important.

— Bill Rabinowitz 🗞 (@brdispatch) November 7, 2019

Off to an 8-0 start, the Buckeyes field the nation’s third-best scoring offense at 48.2 points per game. Outgaining their opponents by an average of 290.5 yards, Ohio State’s attack is led by sophomore quarterback Justin Fields. A Georgia transfer, Fields has thrown 24 touchdown passes and just one interception.

Perhaps even more impressive than their explosive offense, the Buckeyes’ defense has surrendered just 63 points this season (7.9 PPG). Featuring standout junior defensive end Chase Young, Ohio State has a Heisman Trophy candidate on this side of the football, too.

More than six-touchdown favorites in Saturday’s matchup with Maryland (3-6), Day knows his team can’t get caught looking ahead:

Day on Maryland: "On offense, they're dangerous. They have a lot of weapons. We know what McFarland can do. They have some of the better skill-position guys we've seen this year." Said he thought Maryland's defense played its best game of yr vs. Michigan. Said they tackle well.

— Bill Rabinowitz 🗞 (@brdispatch) November 7, 2019

Day: "We know if we don't play our best game, we'll be in a game like we were last year."

— Bill Rabinowitz 🗞 (@brdispatch) November 7, 2019

Saturday’s action from Ohio Stadium in Columbus will kick at 12:00PM ET on FOX.