Presser Bullets: Ryan Day Talks Michigan State Win, Health Issues At Running Back, Confidence in Improved Cornerback Play Moving Forward

Ohio State had its closest Big Ten game of the season Saturday, but that isn't saying much.

The Buckeyes still blew past Michigan State by a 29-point margin, passing their first road test with a 49-20 result in East Lansing. Now undefeated through the first half of the regular season, Ryan Day reviewed Ohio State's latest impressive performance in a press conference following the Spartan steamrolling.

For notes on everything Day and several other Buckeyes said after the game, check out the bullet-point breakdown below:

Ryan Day

On the creativity of the play calling: "It all starts with the running game, and when you're running the ball well, it opens up a lot of things."
Day says Buckeye offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson is "one of the greatest minds in college football."
"It didn't exactly start the way we wanted on offense. But no one panicked at all." Day says it "wasn't perfect," but thought Ohio State played good football on the road.
Day says Ohio State wanted to get to the bye week "as healthy as possible."
On TreVeyon Henderson, Day says "on a different day, he probably would've come back in." Day says it was out of an "abundance of caution" that Henderson didn't return to the game.
Day says "it's exciting to know" that the Buckeyes could be even better with all of their pieces back from injury.
Day says Xavier Johnson is a "good player," and that's why he got some looks at running back with multiple players dealing with injuries today at the position group.
On the wide receivers, Day says the Buckeyes are "warriors" and credits Emeka Egbuka and Julian Fleming for their tough play.
Day says Stroud's interception was a bit of a "miscommunication" between he and Egbuka.
On Stroud: "What can you say about somebody like that that's throwing the ball in 20 mile-an-hour wind. ... Just was clicking. You could see the timing."
On cornerback concerns: "I keep looking at it, and we're there. We just don't seem to be making the plays. ... I know we can do that. I know we can."
Day says Cam Brown was frustrated due to his struggles today, but needs to calm down and not let his emotions play with him.
Day says "we want to be the best in the country, that's our goal." Day says "these past six games, they don't mean a thing moving forward."
"I was surprised" by the last Harrison touchdown catch. "That was special."
Day says he saw some extra fire in Henderson this week in terms of the way he ran.
Day says "nobody batted an eye" after the early Stroud interception.
On Harrison, Day says he was going through the script of practice on Thursday or Friday and routinely is seen by teammates putting in extra work by himself. Day says Harrison has an "unbelievable level of discipline and skill" that has mixed with his tremendous talent.

C.J. Stroud

Stroud says "when you see Marvin working during the week, that's what builds confidence. ... They're so dynamic out there and they always have a 50/50 chance, which I feel like is more like 70/30."
On the final touchdown to Harrison: "Marvin did a good job by just staying wide. ... With those type of guys, all you gotta do is give them a chance."
On the pick-6: "It's just next play. There's no positive when you're thinking about the negative things that have happened to you in the past. ... Mistakes happen. Just a miscommunication between me and Emeka. I think he was gonna swing it down, but he did the smart thing." Stroud says Day and the Buckeyes have his back "no matter what."
"I don't think we really have a limit." Stroud says he's excited to get Myan Williams and Jaxon Smith-Njigba back so the Buckeye offense can be at full strength. Stroud says "I'm actually bummed for Jaxon, man." Stroud says "it hurts" to not have his brother out there with him. But says he's "super excited" to get him back.
Stroud says "practice is harder than the games, if you ask me." Stroud says Michigan State had "nothing to lose" and was a tough opponent on Saturday.
"We didn't come in here for nothing less than a win."
Stroud says "it's a blessing" to be the first Buckeye to have three six-touchdown passing performances. "It's not just me. It's my linemen, it's my receivers running great routes. ... It's a small part by me."
Stroud says the success of his predecessors at the quarterback position at Ohio State was one of the primary reasons he came to Columbus in the first place.
Stroud says he "dedicated the season" to Dwayne Haskins and writes his name on his wristband before every game.
"I ain't gonna lie, I did not like Coach Mick" at all when he first came to Ohio State, but now appreciates Marotti for pushing him to get better.
Stroud says his coaches were "very hard on me growing up," and that it's groomed him to be the quarterback he is today.
On Henderson running with an extra edge: "I definitely think Tre ran very hard. I definitely think he has something to prove to himself just to show that he can still go out there and dominate." Stroud says him and Williams are a "dynamic duo" and will continue to be in the future.
Stroud met Haskins twice, and writes "LLDH7" on his wristbands. Stroud says he "hasn't forgotten about him."

Marvin Harrison Jr.

Harrison says "I just want to be great, be a great football player, and want to help the team win." Says it was "just practice" that allowed him to make his third touchdown catch.
Harrison says "I surprise myself sometimes" with some of the catches he's able to make.
On playing with Egbuka and Fleming: "It's scary to me, so I can only imagine what it is to the rest of the country."
Harrison says he's made "a lot" of the circus catches he makes in games before, because he's been playing football for so long.
On setting the 3-TD game record at Ohio State, Harrison says "I can't really describe what that means to me," and that "hopefully more touchdowns come" in the future.

Ronnie Hickman

Hickman says it's a "tremendous benefit" to know the Buckeye offense can score "anywhere on the field."
"The sky's the limit. We're not even fully healthy, so we just gotta use this bye week to get healthy defensively and offensively."
Hickman says having Ransom back was "huge" for the Buckeye secondary.
Hickman says Stroud's early interception was just "part of the game" and says the Buckeye defense takes pride in being ready for "sudden change" on the football field.
"Coach Knowles wants us to have a fast defense. ... Each week we're getting better at that specifically."