Ryan Day knew he and his team needed to beat Penn State on Saturday.
The Ohio State head coach took a seat in Penn State's media room with a smile on his face, the same smile he had when he talked with FOX Sports reporter Jenny Taft after the game.
"There's a smile right here on my face, and I'm really proud of this team and the physicality," Day told Taft. "It feels really good. We're gonna have some fun in Columbus tonight."
"It just shows the grit and toughness of this team. There's a smile right here on my face and I'm really proud of this team and the physicality." @JennyTaft catches up with @OhioStateFB's Ryan Day after a massive win over Penn State pic.twitter.com/dto7zA1tJs
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 2, 2024
In the press conference, Day discussed how important Ohio State's win over Penn State was for the program. He also said the victory could "springboard" the Buckeyes moving forward as they face Purdue, Northwestern, Indiana and Michigan to close the regular season.
Here is a bullet-point recap of Day's press conference, as well as some comments from quarterback WIll Howard:
Ryan Day
- On whether this was an "angry version" of Ohio State: "I think so. ... The way we've been talking about it is, we've got to go win the game. ... To finish that (last) drive the way we did, it's a physicality and a toughness that's going to springboard us into the rest of the season. ... I'm really happy for this team. I'm happy for the seniors. I think this is gonna springboard us moving forward."
- On the importance of the win: "This was a crossroads for us. ... This was a big game for us for a lot of reasons. ... We had to find a way to get a stop and get that extra first down. That's what it's going to come down to moving forward. ... Guys came back to this team for a reason, to win the rivalry game, win the Big Ten Championship and win a national championship. ... I told the team, 'There's no great accomplishments without going through adversity.' ... I can tell you coming out of that locker room ... probably the most animated locker room I've seen in a long time."
- Day said the defense's goal-line stand showed the toughness of the unit. "Give Jim and the staff credit for their preparation going into this game."
- On Carson Hinzman at left guard: "We went with experience, that was the decision we made in this environment. ... You didn't notice him much and that's a good sign for a guard."
- On if the win is a statement for him. "There a lot there to unpack and I'm not going to get into it right now. ... But your parents read it, your coaches read it. ... It feels good. Still a lot of football ahead of us, but right now it feels good."
- On Will Howard: "What he gives us is a toughness at quarterback. ... The ball squirts out at the 1-yard line and it's a punch to the gut. ... He had a look in his eye all week that he was not going to lose this game. ... He just refused to lose."
- On the momentum swings in the first half, Davison Igbinosun's interception: "We were sort of prepared for a crazy game. It just happens here against Penn State. ... It was another one of those crazy games."
Will Howard
- On the win: "There's no feeling like it man. It wasn't pretty, I played my worst game of the season. ... I believe you take away the pick and the turnover in the end zone, it's probably like 28-3 going into half. ... I can't give enough credit to my teammates, bailing me out."
- Howard said it was the running game and defense that won the day for Ohio State. "We put the ball on (Quinshon Judkins) and (TreVeyon Henderson) and the offensive line, and they won the game."
- When asked what he told the team before Ohio State's final drive – which started at the 1-yard line – Howard answered, "Let's go win this game. We did." Ryan Day entered the conversation and said, "That was the G version of it."
OSU players Carson Hinzman, Donovan Jackson, Davison Igbinosun, JTT and Brandon Inniss also met with reporters following the victory and you can see what they had to say in the videos below.
