Ryan Day Radio Show: Ryan Day Says Ohio State is “Gonna Let It Rip” on Saturday As Buckeyes Expect a “Great Challenge” From Notre Dame

Day said Ohio State's offense is "gonna let it rip" on Saturday as the Buckeyes expect a "great challenge" from Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, quarterback Sam Hartman and the No. 9-ranked Irish.

Here are some of Day's comments from "The Ryan Day Radio Show" on 97.1 The Fan and the head coach's Zoom press conference with reporters on Thursday:

Ryan Day

On the Western Kentucky Game

• "We got challenged."
• Day said Ohio State has found several ways to improve after looking over the film from the Week 3 matchup. "We learned a lot from the film. ... There were a lot of different looks coming at us. Have to be able to handle it, which our guys did."
• Day called Austin Reed and Malachi Corley "NFL players" and said the Hilltoppers were talented from top to bottom on offense. "They (were) good offensively. ... Overall, there were some good things learned from it."
• Day added that he was pleased with the number of turnovers Ohio State's defense forced on Saturday. "The four turnovers were big."

On Ohio State's defense

• "That whole defense, these guys have played football."
• Day said Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers were all over the place on Saturday. He also saw strong performances from several defensive veterans across the board. "It pays off to have experience."
• Day said Ohio State's defense has done great "to anticipate as opposed to react."

On Ohio State's preparation this week

• "Good week of practice. ... It's been a good week. We need a good day today."
• "When it's a 7:30 game, you almost have another half day of preparation."
• Day said Ohio State has benefited from playing in big matchups before when preparing for Notre Dame. "We've been in big games before. We know what these big games are like. We've been in these environments before."

On Marvin Harrison Jr.

• "He's a hell of a player. He really is."
• "Marvin works really hard at what he does... He's been in big games like this. We're gonna need him on Saturday night."
• Day said Notre Dame will probably look to double-team Harrison on Saturday, which means more one-on-one matchups for Emeka Egbuka, Julian Fleming, Cade Stover, TreVeyon Henderson and others. "Guys are gonna have to win their one-on-ones."
• On what Ohio State's offensive approach will be on Saturday: "We are gonna let it rip."

On Carnell Tate's fumble recovery, his performance last week

• "That was one of my favorite plays from the entire game. ... That play was an effort play."
• Day also touted Tate's double-move that led to a touchdown from quarterback Devin Brown.
• Day said Tate has been pleased with Tate's development in his first collegiate season.

On Denzel Burke, Davison Igbinosun and Jordan Hancock

• Day said Ohio State's cornerbacks have been active since spring practices. "They get their hands on balls."
• "Hartman is a very good quarterback. He's gonna challenge these guys."
• "They've had a good week of work. They have a look in their eye."

On Ohio State's running back room, TreVeyon Henderson

• "I think it's good. They are all three of them a little different."
• "We are gonna need them all this season."
• Day said Henderson's competitiveness has looked great this season. "I like that. I like guys like that. His attitude has been excellent."
• On Chip Trayanum: "We will continue to extend his package as the year goes on."

On Caden Curry

• On the number one trait Caden Curry possesses: "Physicality."
• Day said Curry's role will continue to grow as the season continues. "He's done some really good things on special teams. He's gonna do some really good things on defense."
• Day said Curry has a high motor that stands out in Ohio State's defensive line room. He also sees Curry as a standout on special teams.

On Notre Dame, Sam Hartman

• "On defense, they do a great job. We will have to do a great job with our execution. ... On the other side of the ball, it starts with Hartman."
• "It's a great challenge for us. Exactly what you would expect from a top-10 matchup."
• When asked to compare Hartman to another quarterback he has faced, Day said, "Maybe Stetson Bennett a little bit." Day's reasons for that comparison were Hartman's "experience and the age" and how Hartman has complete command of the offense.

On Keenan Bailey, Ohio State's tight end room

• Day praised Keenan Bailey for his work as a first-year full-time assistant. "He's really sharp."
• Day said Cade Stover, Gee Scott Jr. and Joe Royer have been excellent this season. Still, he wants to see the room develop as time continues. "That room will be a weapon for us."
• "It's time for them to compete with competitive excellence."

On Kyle McCord

• "The team really believes in him now that he is the starter."
• "You can see the confidence building."
• Day said that beating Notre Dame would be "huge" for McCord and the confidence he has built. It would also benefit the team's confidence moving forward. "I know this is a big one for him."

On Ohio State's offensive line

• "They have to take the next step."
• Day was pleased with the offensive line's performance against Western Kentucky. However, he understands that Notre Dame will provide a sterner test for the unit. "I thought they took a step last week, but this will be a big step for them." Day said the offensive line must be great communicators in a hostile road environment.
• "On (Notre Dame's) defensive staff, they have some really good coaches. We have to be ready there."

On Notre Dame's defensive backs

• "They've played well. They are well-coached."
• "These guys are as good as we've seen."
• Day said he looks forward to the matchup between Ohio State's receivers and Notre Dame's cornerbacks on Saturday. He believes Harrison, Egbuka and the Buckeyes' other pass-catchers are up for the challenge.

On Ohio State scoring defensive touchdowns last week

• "That's how you flip the scoreboard fast."
• "Defensive scores, you are gaining a possession... you are putting points on the board."
• Day said Tyleik Williams has been great so far in 2023. His defensive touchdown against Western Kentucky "showed the effort" that Williams has put in this season.

On Audric Estimé

• "He leads the country in rushing. He's a good back."
• "They are doing a good job getting him to the second level."
• Day said Ohio State's defense must be disciplined and have sound tackling to keep Estime from finding a rhythm on the ground and keeping the chains moving for Notre Dame's offense.

Keenan Bailey

On his college experience at Notre Dame

• "It was a good time."
• "I'm excited to get back to South Bend as part of a top-10 matchup."
• Bailey said he linked up with current Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford when he was a coach at Notre Dame. Bailey followed Alford to Ohio State "and the rest is history."

On Ohio State's tight ends

• "We will do any job that Coach Day and Coach Hartline ask us to do."
• Bailey said Scott brings "a special skill set" to Ohio State's tight end room. "If he keeps playing hard, he's gonna do big things for us."
• "We have to be a room of steady, dependent guys. ... We need to be trusted."

On the top-10 matchup with Notre Dame

• "This is why you come to Ohio State."
• "This is a different kind of week. ... We have to amp it up."

Ryan Day Lightning Round

• On playing Marvin Harrison Jr. out of the slot: “We try to find ways to get him the ball, always. ... For Marvin, we always try to figure out ways to enhance his skill set, then from the game plan we’ll try to utilize those the best we can.
• Day feels the coaching staff has a “good idea” of where the offense is going through three games: “The first thing you’re trying to do is figure out what fits your guys this year. ... Some of it is the schematics of it. ... We always want to have curveballs, we will. We want to have changeups.”
• On the importance of staying ahead of schedule down to down: “It’s very important. For any quarterback, but for a young quarterback ... if we can first down, then that gives us an opportunity to get in 3rd-and-manageable and be explosive.”
• On the importance of having Lathan Ransom and Josh Proctor healthy: “Lathan and Proc are two guys that have played a lot of football. They know what this environment is like. ... You have to make sure you don’t ride the rollercoaster of the game. ... Lathan and Proc are both going to be a big part of this game.”
• The Buckeyes will have to stay prepared to make defensive adjustments on the fly, Day said. “We’ve seen it this year, and we have to be ready for that. New quarterback, new coordinator, there will be changeups and curveballs on both sides. ... You need guys playing fast and physical in games like this, that’s the most important thing ... but you have to be prepared for the unknown.”
• Day feels that his team is “excited” for the opportunity to play in a marquee night game. “They know what comes with games like this.”
• On how Kyle McCord has done this week: “Continuing to grow. More poise, more purpose ... really good feedback from him. When I ask him what I saw on a play, really good feedback.”
• On whether Day gives McCord an itinerary of how to prepare Friday night and Saturday during the day for a road test like this: “By the end of a week like this, you should be mentally exhausted.” Day told his players to take a mental break after Wednesday’s practice. It’s a balance between work and taking breaks to stay fresh, the coach said.
• “We’ve got to go into this environment and embrace it and go get it. ... We’re going to go as hard as we possibly can and not look up at the scoreboard until the fourth quarter, then we’ll go from there. ... This is what makes great teams, is games like this.”