When Ohio State faces Oregon on Saturday, Ryan Day wants his team to take the next step.
In an appearance on The Ryan Day Radio Show on Thursday, the Ohio State head coach said the Buckeyes are "looking forward to making this trip" to Eugene, Oregon, for a top-three showdown with the Ducks. Day also discussed Will Howard, Jeremiah Smith, Caleb Downs and more in his interview with Paul Keels and Jim Lachey.
After Day's appearance, Ohio State safety Lathan Ransom answered questions on the broadcast.
Here's all the need-to-know information from The Ryan Day Radio Show:
Ryan Day
On the Iowa game
- "Guys were playing hard. It was good. It was good."
- "It was the next step we had to take."
- "We have to take the next step this week."
On Ohio State's confidence entering the Oregon game
- "How do you build confidence? There's a lot of fake confidence out there. The real confidence comes when you do it."
- "We need to go into this game with great confidence."
- "Our guys have had a good week of preparation."
- "Looking forward to making this trip."
On the keys to the game against Oregon
- Run the football. Stop the run. Take care of the football.
- "The turnover battle is huge."
- "The battle of field position becomes critically important."
- "We've got to take care of the football in this game. We got to make sure we're finishing drives."
- Day said converting in the red zone "is gonna be a big point of emphasis" for Ohio State on Saturday.
On what gives him confidence entering the Oregon game
- "Our guys have some experience."
- "Going on the road here, you got to take it to the next level.
- "You got to be mature enough to handle momentum swings, especially on the road."
On Carnell Tate and Tyleik Williams
- Day said Tate and Williams are difference-makers. He looks forward to both Buckeyes being back in the lineup on Saturday.
- Day said Brandon Inniss and Bryson Rodgers stepped up in Tate's absence.
- Day said it was good to see Williams back on the field with Ty Hamilton against Iowa. "Good to see them play physical in that game."
On Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel's ability to run the football
- "He's good at it."
- "He's had a couple of long runs."
- "He's a guy you've gotta account for."
- "He's very accurate. He's good in the pocket. ... He can beat you with his feet."
On Oregon running backs Jordan James and Noah Whittington
- "They've both gotten into a good rhythm."
- "Great challenge for us."
- "Our guys are fired up about it."
On Will Howard
- "For him to respond (after his interception) and play the way he did was great."
- "We're gonna need that type of maturity and strength in this game."
- Day said Ohio State will need Howard's "composure" against Oregon.
- "He's a strong runner. He really is. That makes a big difference in the game."
On Ohio State's running backs and wide receivers blocking
- "It's about being a complete player."
- "It's important what Emeka and some of our other receivers are doing on the perimeter. It's winning football."
- "You have to be a team player. ... It's usually the dirty work. ... That's winning football. That's culture. ... Everyone is gonna get their opportunity."
On Ohio State's plethora of offensive weapons
- "You can't narrow down on one thing."
- "Now, we put it to the test this week."
- "No school today. Got some extra work in today with these guys."
On Jeremiah Smith
- Day said Smith excels at getting off the line of scrimmage and separating from his defenders. "We're gonna get some of that this week, guys on the line of scrimmage."
- "He's much further along than you would think a freshman would be."
- "When you think of receivers, you don't typically think of somebody that physically imposing and strong."
- When asked if Smith is a good "security blanket" for Howard, Day laughed and answered, "I would think so, yeah. Just throw it over there."
On "winning situations" against Oregon
- "You got to win the situations. That's big."
- Day said Ohio State needs to remain "on schedule" on offense.
- "You got to get off the field on third down on defense."
On Caleb Downs
- "I think he's in it now. He feels great. He knows (the defense) really well. He's playing fast."
- "I think he's comfortable with everything going on."
- "He's excited to play in this game this week. You can tell by the way he's practiced."
On Ohio State's experience and maturity
- Day said Ohio State's experience and maturity should pay dividends in the Oregon game.
- Day said most of Ohio State's players have performed in hostile environments before.
- "We're gonna need all that maturity going into this one."
On Ohio State traveling west to Oregon
- While Day acknowledged that Big Ten teams are 2-10 when traveling at least two time zones, the head coach doesn't think distance or travel will impact the Buckeyes on Saturday.
- "We're gonna stay on Buckeye time."
- "Not trying to look too much into it."
- "We're playing at 7:30 (p.m.) our time. That's the way we look at it."
On the NFL kickoff rule possibly coming to college
- "Yeah, probably. If the NFL sticks with it, you will probably see that (in college)."
- "My guess is it will probably come to college."
- "I haven't watched much NFL football; I have my hands full here... but it's interesting."
Lathan Ransom
On the Oregon game
- "We have such a special team because we have players from all over the country."
- "You come to Ohio State for the big stage, the big games."
- "This is why you come here."
On Caleb Downs
- "Caleb Downs came here and gelled with our DBs immediately."
- "He's a guy that likes to compete."
- "He came in, fit in perfectly and now you're seeing the success he's having."
On Ohio State's defensive backs
- Ransom said Ohio State's DB room is one of the deepest in college football.
- "I love playing with them."
- "I'm just blessed to be around all of those guys."
On his injuries at Ohio State
- "Man, that's one thing I try to emphasize to all the younger dudes... I appreciate every time I'm on the field."
- "I have so much love for Ohio State, so much love for the team, the culture... I appreciate everything about this school and about the game so much."
- "I've leaned on my family and my faith. My faith has grown in these tough situations."
- "I've learned a lot about myself, my family and I wouldn't change a thing."
