Head coach Ryan Day walks into the Ohio Stadium motioning O-H-I-O to the crowd ahead of the No. 2 Buckeyes face-off against Michigan. The Wolverines defeated the Buckeyes 13-10 on Saturday. Credit: Carly Damon | Asst. Photo Editor
Dec. 21 will mark the first December football game ever played inside the ‘Shoe.
Ohio State’s home playoff game against Tennessee will be distinct, cold and filled with questions that need to be answered.
One of those questions pertains to head coach Ryan Day, who has remained at the forefront of Buckeye fans’ minds following Ohio State’s fourth consecutive loss to Michigan with him at the team’s helm.
Dec. 1, just one day after the 13-10 loss, Ohio State Athletic Director Ross Bjork expressed his confidence in Ryan Day while speaking to The Columbus Dispatch.
“There’s a ton of stability across the board within the program,” Bjork said to the Dispatch. “We’re always in the top five under his leadership. We’re right there.”
Though many fans believe Ohio State’s first-round matchup with the Volunteers will play a crucial role in Day’s future with the program, Bjork firmly challenged that idea in a Thursday radio interview with 97.1 The Fan.
Most notably, Bjork said he “absolutely” expects Day to be the head coach next season, no matter what happens in the playoff.
“Coach Day and I have hit it off so well,” Bjork said on 97.1 The Fan. “I’ve been really impressed; every single time I talk to him, I learn something. He’s innovative, he recruits at the highest level, he’s got a great staff.”
In the same conversation, Bjork said the Buckeyes must focus on one game at a time and not get too caught up in achieving their end goal.
“If you get fixated on the end result and [don’t] have the process fully baked every time, you’re gonna lose; the mindset is gonna lose because you’re only fixated on one thing,” Bjork said 97.1 The Fan. “What we have to do is this whole ‘championship or bust mentality’ — you want that as a goal, but it has to be about the process. To me, we’ve gotta maybe change some conversations a little bit. I think we need to approach things a little differently. Coach Day is awesome; he’s great to work with, he totally gets it, he loves being a Buckeye, so we’re going to support him at the highest level.”
There’s no doubt Ohio State would have preferred to be idle next weekend, enjoying a first-round bye in the playoff.
Even so, the Dec. 21 game — which will be an 8 p.m. “scarlet out,” according to a Wednesday Ohio State Football X post — will feature some new game-day happenings for Buckeye fans in attendance, Bjork said during the radio interview.
In the hours leading up to the game, ESPN’s College Gameday will host a live show at 9 a.m., in addition to SEC Nation and Big Ten Tailgate.
During the game itself, ESPN analyst Pat McAfee will host his own concurrent broadcast, which will likewise air on the network.
Bjork said on 97.1 The Fan that in accordance with College Football Playoff tradition, Tennessee will get its own hype video before the Volunteers take the field at Ohio Stadium.
Bjork also said there will be fewer sponsor reads and activations, allowing the game-day operations crew to implement more visuals and entertainment segments that set the tone for one of college football’s biggest games.
Two of these additions will be a pyrotechnics display and a drone show, Bjork said on the radio.
Ultimately, Bjork said he hopes Ohio State fans can embrace the Buckeyes’ first-ever home game in December with open arms.
“It’s gonna be a massive production, and it’s gonna be an awesome atmosphere,” Bjork said on 97.1 The Fan. “What we need Buckeyes to do is wear scarlet and don’t sell your tickets.”
