COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State head coach Ryan Day and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles held a press conference from the Woody Hayes Athletic Center ahead of the Buckeyes' first off week.
Coach Day gave a recap of the game against Western Michigan where the No. 3 Buckeyes won 56-0. In the Saturday game, Quinshon Judkins rushed for 108 yards and two touchdowns, freshman Jeremiah Smith had 119 receiving yards and a touchdown, and No. 2 Ohio State scored 35 points in the first half.
Will Howard, in his second start for Ohio State, completed his first 10 passes and finished 18 for 26 for 292 yards and ran for a score before he was relieved late in the third quarter.
Day commented on Howard's poise and command on the field.
"I think, for us, seeing Will out there, it's all new, it's fresh, it's his first game quote-unquote. But, he's played a lot of football," Day said. "I think as time goes you'll start to see that ball come out of his hand with even more and more rhythm and pace."
He also talked about what the team is doing to prepare and improve during their week off. He said the team needs to think of this like it's a game week.
"For this week, we're calling it an improvement week because we need to continue to improve. Everybody else in the country is playing this week for the most part, so we have to as well. We have to try to get each other better," Day said. "Each player is going to be given things that they need to improve on from their position coach."
This is the first of two bye weeks for the team.
The Buckeyes will play Marshall next at home. The game has a noon kickoff.
Ohio State schedule for 2024 season:
- Aug. 31 – Akron | W 52-6
- Sept. 7 – Western Michigan | W 56-0
- Sept. 14 – Off
- Sept. 21 – Marshall
- Sept. 28 – at Michigan State
- Oct. 5 – Iowa
- Oct. 12 – at Oregon
- Oct. 19 – Off
- Oct. 26 – Nebraska
- Nov. 2 – at Penn State
- Nov. 9 – Purdue
- Nov. 16 – at Northwestern
- Nov. 23 – Indiana
- Nov. 30 – Michigan (Noon, FOX)