Social Reactions: Ohio State Gets Fancy, and Gets the Running Game Rolling

There was a marked difference in Ohio State's running game between last week against Maryland and this Saturday against Purdue, and that change was entirely due to a willingness to get positively capital-F Fancy (for them, at least) with both playcalling and personnel choice.

Having spent four quarters almost literally pounding their heads into a wall of turtle-shaped bricks, this week Ryan Day and company adopted a different approach: not doing that. Instead of relying on Chip Trayanum to rush up the gut 20 times for about three yards a carry, they only had him do that six times (for about 4.7 yards per carry). Instead of steadfastly running to the short side of the field, Ohio State sometimes ran plays to places where there weren't seven defenders waiting to tackle them. Instead of ignoring a 99.999% success rate of having your quarterback just sneak it across the line in short yardage situations, Ryan Day said "hmm, let's do the easy thing, instead of the not easy thing."

And, of course, they made the correct decision and gave Dallan Hayden most of the carries and let him pop off for 76 yards and 6.9 yards per carry. That, plus some funkiness with Devin Brown in goal line situations, warmed the cockles of my cold dead heart because that is the essence of college football: a willingness to change and evolve, even during the course of what's ostensibly a great season, knowing that things can get better.

Was a lot of it thrown in to make Penn State gameplan for a bunch of weird crap next week? I hope not! But even if it was, for this week at least, it was fun as hell to watch.

THE TEAM

To God be the Glory! 6-0!
— Mark Pantoni (@markpantoni) October 14, 2023

YUHHHH https://t.co/DzvT1RtMqX
— Carnell Tate (@carnelltate_) October 14, 2023

Best thing about going 6-0#BuckeyeNation
— Brian Hartline (@brianhartline) October 14, 2023

THE ALUMNI

I don't care how bad Purdue might be... Getting a stop there like that is impressive!! Way to show up, D!!! Big time!!!!!!
— JJ Sullinger (@JJSullinger) October 14, 2023

I love what Dallan provides this offense. Run game looks different with 5
— Zach Boren (@ZBoren44) October 14, 2023

Every runner for OSU with more than 3 carries averaged 4+ yds a carry. Even Devin Brown from the QB position. The run game took a step forward today.
— Chimdi Chekwa (@ChimChek) October 14, 2023

I know Halloween coming up in a couple of weeks. Dont be that house thats giving away Almond Joy to these kids. Dont even buy the big bag that has them in there. All kids do is throw them out their bucket when they leave lol
— Tyvis Powell (@1Tyvis) October 15, 2023

MAN THAT'S A HUGE PRETZEL

Buckeyes getting ready! Go Bucks pic.twitter.com/0NNkszsKU9
— Gene Smith (@OSU_AD) October 14, 2023

THE REST

captain oh my captains pic.twitter.com/nK6UejebM0
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) October 14, 2023

Who else but Marvin Harrison Jr.?pic.twitter.com/lvCqzEPRCF
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 14, 2023

@ Purdue cornerbacks pic.twitter.com/OXYsudbSja
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 14, 2023

"I'm told that is the world's largest drum!" - Peacock announcer bro while the camera shows a giant drum that literally says "World's Largest Drum" on it.
— Michael Citro (@Mike36fan) October 14, 2023

"No one likes going to Ross-Ade stadium" The most accurate commentary ever dropped during a football game
— lukezim (@lukezim) October 14, 2023

S MANY BUCKEYES pic.twitter.com/Ar9ytlgGmE
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) October 14, 2023

https://t.co/g2hCTYWrZZ pic.twitter.com/eboGY1BJvx
— Sam Blazer (@Sam_Blazer) October 14, 2023

Another @OhioStateFB TD this time by @dbrownqb33.

: Peacock pic.twitter.com/6v0Iq1rDJ9
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 14, 2023

OH MY GOD A QUARTERBACK SNEAK I'M CRYING TEARS OF JOY
— Kevin Harrish (@Kevinish) October 14, 2023

A QB sneak!
— Alex Gleitman (@alexgleitman) October 14, 2023

QB sneak!
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 14, 2023

OH MY GOD THEY DID IT!!!
— Marc Givler (@MarcGivler) October 14, 2023

Goodness, Marv pic.twitter.com/sRdLmlYrP4
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 14, 2023

Purdue had two different students come down from the crowd for marketing events that required kicking field goals and the students went a combined 3-4, including a 40-yard make.
— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) October 14, 2023

Ryan Walters: Are you gonna make this field goal?

Purdues kicker: pic.twitter.com/LCOYPHEetZ
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 14, 2023

Went to the @BoilerFootball game and got my favorite players of all time at OSU! Thank you so much @JLaurinaitis55 and @brianhartline for making my day. This is definitely going into the man cave! pic.twitter.com/IcW2Squjq6
— Matthew Bolin (@coachmbolin) October 14, 2023

27 points - 27 second workout
GO BUCKS! pic.twitter.com/BbwXjD2w9I
— Gene Smith (@OSU_AD) October 14, 2023

Ryan Day on the redzone package using Devin Brown's arm and legs to mix up the offense. pic.twitter.com/lKaJkdeezD
— Lantern Sports (@LanternSports) October 14, 2023