Postgame Updates From Ohio State’s 38-7 Win Over Michigan State

EAST LANSING, MI — Ohio State head coach Ryan Day met with the media following the Buckeyes’ 38-7 win at Michigan State Saturday night. Day spoke about the performance of freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith, the effort from his defense, and much more. Several players also took to the podium as well. The highlights of everything that was said can be found below.

Ryan Day

• On the sequence before halftime with Devin Brown: “Just some tremendous plays. The play by Jeremiah.” Chip Kelly was aggressive in the play calling. “What an unbelievable catch. I couldn’t believe he caught it.” That was kind of where the game turned.
• On the defense in the first half: When you look at the sum total of it all, it looks like a great performance. They shut them down in the second half but there are some things in the first half that they need to fix. They watched the film at the half and adjusted.
• Will Howard is good to go. Tyleik Williams was an emergency option. They wanted to give him another week.
• The turnover battle was huge. If they don’t get those turnovers, this may be a different game. But that’s football and turnovers are part of the game.
• The assessment of Will Howard’s poise: The interception was something to learn from and move on. There are always growing pains in a new offense. He was solid overall and poised. Made some big throws. Had a couple of tough runs.
• Jeremiah Smith’s work ethic has allowed him to meet the expectations. “The talent speaks for itself.”
• Caleb Downs played great tonight. Showed up in a couple of big spots. He prepares as hard an anybody on the team. “He got us going a little bit back there.”
• Devin Brown came in and delivered a clutch play. They told him to rip it and throw it where only the receiver could catch it. He made a big play in a big spot.
• TreVeyon Henderson did a great job in pass protection on a pair of touchdown passes. He ran hard too.
• “We’re making progress but we have a long way to go.” The challenges ahead are bigger.
• Iowa is up next. They’ve had a week off. That’s a big challenge.
• On the playcalling overall: It’s everybody on the staff, but Chip Kelly always has a great feel for when to throw fastballs and curveballs.

Jeremiah Smith

• On his touchdown catch: It was cover 2 and the corner pressed him. Devin Brown made a great throw. His favorite catch was the deep one before that.
• When Devin Brown came in: “We all knew we just had to make a play.” They had confidence in him.

Emeka Egbuka

• On his touchdown catch: Says a lot about the coaches to have faith in the team to go for it on fourth down. Watch the replay, it was a great pass from Will Howard.
• They were talking all week about the fact that there would be adversity in this game. Will Howard reacted well to it. “Mistakes don’t define you.”
• Jeremiah Smith has all of the intangibles you want in a receiver. The ability to seek knowledge and wants to learn.

Jordan Hancock

• The first couple of possessions for MSU, they were moving the ball. They have a bend-but-don’t-break mindset. They worked all week on stripping the ball.
• “We haven’t played our best ball yet.” They work at it constantly. “We’re getting better each and every week.”
• Caleb Downs is a stabilizing force and an on-field coach. Hancock asks him stuff on the field all the time.

Will Howard

• On Devin Brown’s touchdown pass: That was the game. Devin did an unbelievable job of being ready when his number was called. “That really sealed the game.” “I’m just so proud of Devin for stepping in and being ready.”
• Might be sore tomorrow but it’s all good.
• Why are you so successful on fourth down? It’s belief. It’s just another play. They don’t make too much of it. “All I gotta do is just put it in their hands.”
• On his INT: Just a bad decision. They went into cover 2 and they were expecting man. He rushed the decision and forced it in there.
• What did you learn about yourself tonight? “We’re resilient and we can be explosive. We were able to hurt them in a lot of different ways.” They had more stuff that they didn’t call that would have hurt them too. They left some plays on the field.
• On being entrusted to throw it on fourth down: “I love it when you feel that confidence from your coordinator and your head coach.”

Cody Simon

• After the first quarter, they wanted to be more violent and more assertive. They had more intent in the second half. “Big Ten ball’s not easy.”
• Are you happy with the way you guys have played in the first half of games? They are never satisfied. They gave up too many yards. They are focused on three-and-outs. “We have a lot to build on.”

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