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My Next DAY OSU Thoughts

By Kenny Roda 12-7-25

Horrible play calling, it reminded me of the loss to Michigan last year, especially in the red zone and yes, the final score of that loss was 13-10.

It’s very concerning to me that two weeks in a row, in the two biggest games of the year, the offense has gotten off to a slow start and actually turned the ball over twice on Julian Sayin interceptions.  The first drive of the game is supposed to be one that is scripted and has your best plays in it to execute and get off to a fast start and an early lead. That must change quickly over what you hope will be a 3 game playoff run to a 2nd straight National Title.

If I’m Ryan Day moving forward, i’m going to be more aggressive on offense, especially if I have a 4th down and 4 yards or less. If that’s the case, I’m bypassing the field goal attempt and going for the 1st down because I can’t trust Jayden Fielding and if I don’t get it, I have the nation’s best defense to bail me out. 

On offense, on 3rd down and 4th down and whatever, please do not take Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate off the field! First of all, you’re not a good short yardage run team. Secondly, at least they’re a decoy if they’re on the field, it spreads out the defense even if you’re not gonna throw to them. But maybe, even if it’s for 1 or 2 yards, you should throw to them, to me that’s a better option than trusting a average at best run blocking offensive line.

Next up, you can’t coach not to lose, or conservatively anymore. I’m wondering, though, knowing that they were already in the playoff, if they didn’t use the entire playbook. Or maybe it had something to do with Brian Hartline accepting the South Florida head coaching job and that was a major distraction? If it was, and you think it still will be, then just let Hartline leave for South Florida already.

The great thing, and yes, I said great thing about the loss is, it didn’t end your season and it tested your team in situations they hadn’t been in all year, and while they trailed for the first time in the second half and failed, and Julian Sayin faced defensive looks that he struggled with, now everyone has a reference point to learn from and build off of.

Treat this like this was the last test of a course in college in the semester, but you still have the final exam to make up for it.

It would not surprise me, depending on how the College Football Playoff bracket ends up, if Ohio State and Indiana don’t meet again and it’s for the National Title. If that’s happens, you should have the answers that you need to beat the Hoosiers next time.

And it’s not quite the flag plant at your home stadium like Michigan did last year, but since that seemed to motivate Ohio State last year in their run to a National Title, maybe Indiana WR- Charlie Becker’s podium gesture of O – H – F – U will be the rallying cry, and fire up this year’s Buckeyes to get another shot at Indiana and win their second straight National Championship!