Ryan Day on Wisconsin matchup: 'We can't worry about what this game means or doesn't mean'

With Wisconsin losing last Saturday in shocking fashion to Illinois, the Ohio State-Wisconsin matchup this weekend won’t pit two undefeated teams against each other.

That would have been the dream scenario for the Big Ten, which is hoping to earn a playoff spot for the first time since 2016. But the significance of this game isn’t on the mind of Ohio State coach Ryan Day anyway.

“We can’t worry about what this game means or doesn’t mean,” said Day.

Day on the Wisconsin game: "We can't worry about this game means or doesn't mean." Said it goes back to the weekly mentality of working hard and being 1-0 each week.

— Bill Rabinowitz 🗞 (@brdispatch) October 22, 2019

Despite the Wisconsin loss last week, this matchup has plenty of significance anyway. Ohio State wouldn’t be eliminated with a loss Saturday, but keep in mind, the Buckeyes were left out of the playoff despite having just one loss last year.

Ohio State’s top priority is remaining undefeated in order to have the inside track to the College Football Playoffs.

Day does expect it to be a huge challenge this week against Wisconsin and said Tuesday that his team needs to play its best in order to win.

Ryan Day on Wisconsin: “It’s going to be our biggest challenge on both sides of the ball."

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 22, 2019

OSU coach Ryan Day says "This has to be our best game of the year."

— Nathan Baird (@nwbaird) October 22, 2019

Day on Wisconsin losing: "We know how good they are on both sides of the ball — all three phases…. This is going to be our biggest challenge on both sides of the ball."

— Bill Rabinowitz 🗞 (@brdispatch) October 22, 2019