Ryan Day has just one week left as Ohio State’s interim head coach, and thus far, things have gone about as perfectly as could be hoped, following the team’s second lopsided victory in as many weeks. This time, the Buckeyes put together a thoroughly impressive, well-rounded performance, putting up 52 points, while holding the Rutgers Scarlet Knights to a single field goal— their only points in the series in the last three meetings.

However, the two wins over Oregon State and Rutgers were simply warmups for the team’s first big test of the season as No. 4 Ohio State will play a “neutral site” game against No. 15 TCU on Saturday in Arlington, Texas, a little more than 20 miles from TCU’s campus.

As we turn our attention to the primetime matchup, Day recapped the Rutgers victory and looked forward to an important week of practice.

Champions of the Game

Offense: Tate Martell, J.K. Dobbins, Mike Weber, Terry McLaurin, K.J. Hill, Johnnie Dixon, Austin Mack, Parris Campbell, Rashod Berry, Luke Farrell, Isaiah Prince, Michael Jordan, Demetrius Knox, Thayer Munford
Player of the Game: Dwayne Haskins

Defense: Robert Landers, Dre’Mont Jones, Chase Young, Malik Harrison, Damon Arnette, Kendall Sheffield, Shaun Wade, Jordan Fuller
Player of the Game: Nick Bosa

Special Teams Player of the Game: Jahsen Wint

Ryan Day

Rutgers Recap

• On speaking about the performance of Tate Martell, Day said, “I think Tate showed what he can do... but nothing he did surprised us.”
• He said that he was impressed with Martell’s accuracy throwing the ball and running the offense.

Position Battles

• Day says that the depth of the offense is the thing that impresses him the most about the unit.
• “We look across the board and we’re pretty deep,” Day said. “A lot of playmakers. That, matched with the tempo, and our ability to protect (the quarterbacks) right now, is really good.”
• Day said that even though Dwayne Haskins is young, he has the knowledge and authority to make adjustments.
• “He knows in the run game, (that) he has the ability to make a check. And in the pass game, he can change the protection.”
• Day said that who the team’s “deep threat” is depends on how the defense is playing.
• “Our main deep threats are Johnnie and Terry,” Day said. “We’ve also taken shots from the inside. But any of those guys can be threats down the field. When those opportunities present themselves, we have to capitalize.”
• Day said that Martell does not have a specific series that he will enter the game. It is more determined by the flow of the game.
• He said that the team views having C.J. Saunders and Demario McCall as punt returners is a positive. He said that they are both dynamic, but they are still new to the position, so they need to get more reps.

TCU Preview

• Day praises Gary Patterson’s preparation in getting his team ready to make adjustments.
• He adds that they’ve been together for so long, you’re not going to get anything free from them.
• Day said that everything is normal during the week, so Urban Meyer is very involved in the game-planning for TCU.
• Despite the two season-opening blowouts, Day said that the team has to focus on getting better. “We’ve got to make corrections and got to be critical of ourselves moving forward,” he said. “If we play the way that we know we can play, that’s going to give us the best chance to win.”
• Day calls Saturday’s contest against TCU a road game. Says that it will present different challenges than playing at home.
• He said Patterson is “One of the best coaches in the past 20 years of college football.”
• “(TCU’s) team speed is excellent,” Day said. “They’re fast, they’re constantly running to the ball.”

Miscellaneous

• Day said that the culture and training of the program has allowed the team to survive the difficulties of the early season.
• “When games get tighter, every play matters even more. The mistakes are still there. Those plays in a big game are going to show up even more. We have to correct them.”
• Day said that while there aren’t major things that concern him from the team, but that they need to be incredibly critical to make sure that they are playing at the highest level possible on every play, not just “four out of five.”
• Talking about his experience as the interim head coach, Day said, “Anytime you’re doing something new for the first time, there’s a learning curve. Some things you do well, other things you don’t do so well. So anytime you do something a second time, you feel a little more comfortable in that role.”

Greg Schiano

Position Battles

• In speaking of Jordan Fuller’s return, “He’s a very good athlete and has good anticipation, good vision. He came here as a corner and he good play corner. He was quarterback in high school. He has good awareness and he’s a good tackler.”
• He adds that he has been pleased with the young players Isaiah Pryor, Shaun Wade, and Jahsen Wint. He said that they will try to get each of them more reps and hope that someone claims a starting position.
• He said that even though he hasn’t played yet, Tyreke Johnson is doing very well, and that he expects him to play eventually.
• Schiano said that part of playing great defense “is playing with an edge,” but that Chase Young needs to control that. “You need to control yourself so you don’t get a penalty.”
• He said that he expects defenses to get more creative every week on how they block Nick Bosa, because he is a special talent.

TCU Preview

• Schiano said that TCU’s offensive line is very strong, and that their skill position players are extremely fast. He praises quarterback Shawn Johnson for being multi-talented.
• “Their offensive line is as good as any in the Big Ten. They have some really athletic kids. Than, their quarterback, he’s new this year. He’s a really good player who’s multi-dimensional. This will be a huge test for our defense.”
• Since Johnson is the first running-QB that they’ve faced this season, Schiano said that it changes the “defensive math.”

Miscellaneous

• Schiano said that there will be a familiarity to playing in AT&T Stadium, since the team just played there in the Cotton Bowl in December. But, he added, that it’s really a home game for TCU.
• “Any time that you’re familiar with something it’s a little bit easier.”
• Schiano said that Bosa is playing on a “high level. As an offensive coach, you’re gonna know where he is at all times.”

The No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes will take on the No. 15 TCU Horned Frogs on Saturday, Sept. 15 at 8 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The game will be broadcast on ABC, and ESPN’s “College GameDay” will emanate from TCU’s campus on Saturday morning.