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What Ohio State HC Ryan Day said during Sugar Bowl media appearance on Thursday
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One day.
That’s all that stands between us and the Sugar Bowl showdown between No. 3 Ohio State (6-0) and No. 2 Clemson (10-1), a rematch of last year’s thrilling Fiesta Bowl. Once again, it’s one of the most anticipated matchups of the bowl season, with a trip to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game hanging in the balance.
Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day and Tigers leader Dabo Swinney both met with the media on Thursday as the two teams prepare for their semifinal showdown on Friday. While both coaches have spoken with reporters a handful of times leading up to this game, the New Year’s Eve media availability will be the final time before the two teams take the field.
Day talked about preparation, Ohio State’s defensive outlook, the matchup with Clemson and, of course, his thoughts on Swinney ranking the Buckeyes No. 11 on his coaches poll ballot.
Here’s what Day had to say on Thursday, just one day ahead of the Sugar Bowl:
Ryan Day and Dabo Swinney are holding their pre-Sugar Bowl Zoom call. I asked Day how close to full strength the Buckeyes will be. He said it's a "floating target right now" because even guys returning from COVID protocol are working their way back into game shape.
— Bill Rabinowitz 🗞 (@brdispatch) December 31, 2020
Ryan Day on how healthy Ohio State will be for tomorrow's game: “Full strength is a floating target.” Said the players who were out for the Northwestern game are “working their way back into it … but to say 100%, it's different this year.”
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) December 31, 2020
Ryan Day said Dabo Swinney and his wife Kathleen have been “very gracious” to him and his wife Nina. Said he is happy Dabo wasn't on the College Football Playoff selection committee this year, but didn't directly answer about Dabo voting Ohio State 11th in the Coaches Poll.
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) December 31, 2020
Ryan Day: “I don't think that we as a team have played our best game … We have to play our best game.“ That's not Justin Fields or one side of the ball, Day said, that's everybody.
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) December 31, 2020
Ryan Day on Ohio State's defense: “I think there's been great improvement in that area, but the real test will be tomorrow.”
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) December 31, 2020
Ryan Day called it a unique situation that Ohio State and Clemson are not following standardized coronavirus protocols. The Buckeyes are tested today, while the Tigers are done.
"But I’m not going to spend time thinking about that. I'm tired of that. It's what it is."
— Joey Kaufman (@joeyrkaufman) December 31, 2020
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