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Jake Trotter, ESPN Staff Writer
INDIANAPOLIS — Ohio State coach Ryan Day said Tuesday that his talented team is embracing all the expectations and pressure heading into a pivotal season. But Day added that talent alone won’t deliver the Buckeyes their first national championship in a decade.
“We all know there’s a lot of noise and a lot of hype around this team,” Day said during Big Ten media days. “And what we can’t do is let those distractions grab our focus from what we need to do day in and day out. We know it’s going to be a long season. … But we’re very, very excited about our guys. We have great experience in that locker room and some great talent, but it’s going to take more than talent.”
Ohio State has gone 56-8 with Day as head coach. The Buckeyes, however, have also lost three straight games to rival Michigan and haven’t won the Big Ten conference title since 2020. Off a 30-24 victory over the Buckeyes last season, the Wolverines went on to win the national championship, and Ohio State missed the playoff.
“Anytime you’re at Ohio State, we know you’re going to have expectations. There’s always going to be chatter. There’s always going to be noise,” Day said. “It’s our job to block all those things out and just focus on what really matters. … Our guys, they know what the expectation is. … We’re not going to shy away from that. We want to win the rivalry game [Michigan]. … win this Big Ten championship, win a national championship.”
The Buckeyes enter this season as the favorite to win the Big Ten and return to the playoff. Ohio State is loaded with preseason All-Americans, including wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, defensive lineman Tyleik Williams, running back Quinshon Judkins and safety Caleb Downs, the reigning SEC Defensive Freshman of the Year, who transferred from Alabama to Ohio State during the offseason.
“Every time I’ve gone into a season in Ohio State … you expect to win every game,” Day said. “That’s just what it is. And if you don’t think that’s the case, try losing a game at Ohio State. You’re expected to win them all. So that’s not new. We embrace it.”
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