A new year brings a massive clash between Ohio State and Oregon in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal tomorrow.
Before their teams rematch before the gorgeous tapestry of the Rose Bowl, coaches Ryan Day and Dan Lanning met with the media on Tuesday for a joint press conference. Both stressed the importance of “execution over emotion” entering a game with a lot of stakes and a bit of competitive bad blood.
Day said the key to preventing the explosive plays that hurt Ohio State in the first matchup will be quick alignment and sharp communication. Day and Lanning said their teams are as healthy as possible entering the game.
Ryan Day
- Day called the Rose Bowl "one of the greatest settings in college football" and said Ohio State has a lot of respect for how Lanning runs his program.
- On the difference of preparing for playoff games with more ahead: "It's a different experience. It's like being in a routine of a game week. ... I think we've all seen this coming and so all prepared for what this is going to look like."
- Day said Lanning does a great job of recruiting talented, high-character individuals and developing them. "They're very well-coached and they play very, very hard."
- On potential changes to CFP structure: "Focus is on the Rose Bowl and this game, but we're learning. Everyone's learning."
- On the rematch: "I think both teams are just in a different place than we were early in the season and it's going to come down to the play on the field. ... It's about matchups and we know that. ... And then understanding that, in all three phases, we have to work together. ... You're going to see it more and more going forward."
- On the ex-Florida State basketball players who are suing their school over unpaid NIL money: "Hard to, a day out from this game, to be commenting on that situation ... I think we would all like a little more structure to alleviate some of those issues."
- On Oregon's explosive plays in the previous meeting and how to prevent them: "The route running, the throwing, the protection, all those things came together. They did a great job of creating X (explosive) plays. ... They're still going to have those type of ways to attack us. So we've got to do a great job of lining up, we've got to do a great job of communicating."
- Day said winning on Wednesday will be about "execution over emotion." "Understanding that we all have to have poise and it's going to be a four-quarter battle."
- Day said he wouldn't be where he's at now without his wife, Nina. "It's about family for me. ... I've known Nina since we were 6 years old, so we've been through a lot together."
- On the team's health status: "All things considered, we're as healthy and as strong as we've been all season. ... Although we've had some injuries at certain positions, I feel like right now, we're playing as fast and as violent as we have all season."
- Day is excited for the atmosphere of the Rose Bowl: "The electricity in that stadium tomorrow will be special."
- On bringing in Will Howard: "We saw a winner in Will, we saw a leader. ... I think as the season's gone on, you've seen him grow week-in and week-out, but his leadership will be important in this game."
Dan Lanning
- In his opening statement, Lanning expressed gratitude for the Rose Bowl for being a "first-class experience."
- Lanning said Oregon has to focus on the task at hand and not "You can't worry about this game until you take care of this game."
- On what he respects most about Day's program: "A really talented team and that's kudos to the work they do in the offseason and during the season. ... It's really hard to find weaknesses in Ohio State."
- On potential changes to the CFP structure: "Furthest thing from my mind right now. ... I think college football is going to continue to see change. ... I'm sure the people that need to be able to assess it will assess it."
- Lanning said both teams will have wrinkles, but can't avoid running things the other has seen in the rematch: "There's things that Ohio State does well that we're going to do that they do well and there's things that Oregon does well that we're going to do."
- Lanning said NIL isn't on his mind, but asked his thoughts on "Growing up in the Midwest, you have to be a man of your word. ... At Oregon, we're about integrity."
- Lanning echoed Day's sentiments about execution over emotion. "There will be momentum swings in this game like there are in every game, but it's just momentum."
- On someone who couldn't be here without: "My wife Sophia. ... As blessed as anything to have a wife at home to take care of those three boys. ... I know she was working her tail off yesterday."
- Lanning spoke very highly of Oregon wide receiver Tez Johnson. "He's a real competitor, and that competitive spirit carries over to the rest of our team."
- Lanning said Oregon's players are still setting PRs in the weight room and are as healthy as they can be this late in the season. "It's something you prepare for throughout the summer because you know what this season can look like."
