It's only been 45 days since Ohio State closed its grueling run to a national championship.
A season that ended later than any before for the Buckeyes has prompted a delaying of spring practice to March 17, with four weeks instead of the usual five to squeeze in 15 practices. It's also changing Ryan Day and his program's approach to spring practice.
"I think as you look at our team, there's a group of guys that have played a lot of football," Day said. "And those guys who have played a lot of football coming off of last year are, especially in the first half of spring and maybe three-quarters of the spring, are going to be treated a little bit differently than some of the other guys. That's kind of one group.
"The next group are the guys that have played a lot of football but are now in a different role that really need to step up and become starters. And then you have guys that just got here that need a ton of football. So this is going to be a different style of spring."
With that, Ohio State fans shouldn't expect to see Caleb Downs, Sonny Styles or the Buckeyes' other returning starters in their spring “showcase” on April 12. Day did say on Friday that Ohio State will try to simulate game reps for most of its players, at least, even if the format is changing along with the name of the event.
"It isn't just going to be a bunch of seven-on-seven and guys running around doing one-on-ones and individual drills," Day said. "I mean, we're going to try to do the best we can to simulate game opportunities for our players. But there will also be some players that will hold out in that game."
Day added that it will be important to expose the team's younger players to game reps given that Ohio State opens the season with a marquee showdown against Texas.
"The first time we play a game this year with this team is going to be against Texas at home," Day said. "So to get some of these young players in the stadium with a good crowd will still be important."
The Buckeyes’ practices in general this spring will feature less contact than usual, Day said. Off a 16-game season with another potential 16-game campaign on the way as Ohio State wants to make another championship run in 2025, the Buckeyes’ head man is emphasizing being "smart" with player reps this spring.
"You have 15 opportunities, and in the past those were all padded practices, very physical," Day said. "That will not be the case, for sure, this spring. We will use some helmeted practices, almost like OTA-style, to take some of those. There will be more teaching opportunities to be smart there."
Ohio State will strike a balance between lighter contact, development and sorting out a long list of position battles when it opens spring practice on March 17.
