Ohio State head coach Ryan Day knows what mistakes he made during the team’s loss to Michigan this season.
In a recent conversation, Day reflected on the 2022 season and what he could have done better. On the first episode of More Than Coach Speak, Day revealed he didn’t have the correct mindset heading into the game.
“I think back on this year and our rivalry game,” Day said. “You want the game so bad that the focus can just be on winning the game, but what does winning the game actually mean? You can’t just win the game. You have to win each play.”
Here’s more of what he said, via 11 Warriors:
“You have to win each situation. I think the mistake I’ve probably made is, ‘We’re going to win this game. Let’s get after them. Let’s get physical. Let’s beat them up.’ When you’re playing a team or a player that’s equal to you, you have to focus on winning every single possession, every single play. And how do you do that? Great technique, great focus. Eventually, you will win the game.”
Day admitted the team did a much better job in the College Football Playoff game against Georgia – with the Buckeyes nearly won.
“I think we did a better job in the Peach Bowl of letting it all out, playing aggressively and looking to play the next play and win the next play,” Day said. “We didn’t look at the scoreboard and say, ‘What if we win? What if we lose?’ We really focused on winning each situation and each play.”
Ohio State will be dangerous once again in 2023 – especially after Day and company learned from their mistakes.