Ryan Day knows how important the left tackle position is in the game of football, and Ohio State’s head coach knows it’s particularly important when you’re playing the 3rd-ranked team in the country in their rocking stadium.

Left tackle hasn’t been kind to the Buckeyes of late. After losing Josh Simmons to a season-ending knee injury in the loss at Oregon on Oct. 12, Simmons’ replacement, senior Zen Michalski, was carted off the field in the 4th quarter of last Saturday’s victory over Nebraska.

Michalski, who was making his first career start against the Cornhuskers, was examined by team trainers on the field after he ended up at the bottom of a pile and was later helped to the sideline. Then came the cart to get Michalski off the field, which is never a good sign.

But during Tuesday’s weekly press conference, Day said there is still hope for Michalski to play in Saturday’s titanic showdown against Penn State in Happy Valley.

“We’ll look at it again today and see where he’s at,” said Day. “I think there is a chance (he could play). But we’ll look at it today and get an update later in the week.”

Day also said that if Michalski can indeed suit up, he would be the starter at left tackle for the 4th-ranked Buckeyes in the noon ET kickoff on FOX.