“The Only Expectation is to Win”: Ryan Day Says Ohio State Must Avoid Distractions, Set Aside Individual Goals to Beat Texas in the Season Opener

With the No. 1 Texas Longhorns coming to Columbus this weekend, Day said the No. 3 Buckeyes have one expectation: Win.

Day addressed Ohio State’s mentality entering Saturday and more inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Wednesday. Here’s a recap of Day’s brief session with the media:

• On Eddrick Houston’s injury this preseason and the balance between giving Houston rest and getting him ready to face Texas: “You have to get guys ready. I think that is really a conversation when you start off with a game like this. You have to be ready to go.” Day added: “We’ve had a very physical preseason.”
• Day said his players have to manage their expectations entering the season opener. He said the players have to put aside their individual goals and sacrifice them for the betterment of the team. “The only expectation is to win,” he said.
• Day said Ohio State has to avoid distractions the rest of the week before kickoff. He noted that younger players can be susceptible to distractions.
• Day praised Texas for its roster construction in several areas. He called the season opener against the Longhorns a “matchup game” for the Buckeyes. “They have really good players,” Day said of Texas.
• On Philip Daniels emerging as a frontrunner to start at right tackle: “We feel like he’s ready to play. … We feel like we have some depth at the position, which is good. … Phil will play a lot, and then we’ll kind of go from there.”
• Day called Ohio State’s season opener against Texas one of the biggest games in the 102-year history of the Horseshoe. “It’s great for college football. It’s great for our fans. It’s great for our team.”
• Day reiterated that the Buckeyes have “no other expectation than to win” against Texas.
• Day said execution will be critical for Ohio State to have success against Texas. He said the Buckeyes need to have a clean game and limit self-inflicted wounds against the Longhorns. “Execution fuels emotion,” he said.
• Day said he’s spent the majoriy of his time with the offense this week since Ohio State has a new quarterback and Brian Hartline is calling plays for the first time. Day said he’s been pleased with how Matt Patricia is leading the defense and Rob Keys is leading special teams.
• When asked how having a season opener against Texas differs from having a season opener against Grambling, Day said Ohio State has had to approach the game with added intensity. “We have to win this game. That’s the No. 1 goal coming out of it,” he said.