Ryan Day admits when he knew the Ohio State Buckeyes were going to put it on the Tennessee Vols in the College Football Playoff
When Ohio State fell to Michigan once again last November, it could have been the end of their season. Despite a College Football Playoff still on the line, the Buckeyes could have turned over and fallen flat in that opening game of the playoff. They didn’t. Ohio State rolled Tennessee in that first game and […]
When Ohio State fell to Michigan once again last November, it could have been the end of their season. Despite a College Football Playoff still on the line, the Buckeyes could have turned over and fallen flat in that opening game of the playoff.
They didn’t. Ohio State rolled Tennessee in that first game and it was just the start of a special run. The Buckeyes went on to beat Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame to claim their first National Championship in a decade.
When it comes to beating Tennessee, that was a statement game. The Vols faithful traveled well and showed up in Columbus. Orange showing up in the crowd played a part in the Buckeyes knowing they would win that game.
“When we came out of the locker room and there was some orange in the crowd. Everyone in that stadium felt like our backs against the wall, including us,” Ryan Day told Josh Pate recently. “At that moment it could have went one of two ways and our guys just went wild during the warmups. And I said okay, at that point I knew we were in a good place.”
Day finally getting a National Championship for the Buckeyes after getting close on a couple of occasions was a special moment. Ohio State had to show up in each one of those games and couldn’t afford to have the same team that showed up against Michigan reappear.
The Buckeyes got out to a 21-0 lead before the Vols were able to score and led 21-10 at halftime. Ohio State came out in the second half and dominated to go up 42-10 and put the game away. Tennessee scored a late touchdown but the Buckeyes were clearly the better team from start to finish.
Coming out with that statement game may have been just what Ohio State needed to get hot for those final four games. One thing is for sure, Tennessee showing up in Columbus may have hurt them more than it helped.
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