Ryan Day comes out of the win over Texas with a clear mindset for the Ohio State Buckeyes going forward

Ryan Day is on quite a run as the head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes. Since their loss to the Michigan Wolverines in last year’s regular-season finale, Ohio State has beaten five straight top-10 opponents.

That stretch includes two wins over the Texas Longhorns, the latest being a 14-7 victory to open this season. It’s exactly the kind of start the Buckeyes wanted—and one that reinforced an important belief within the program.

Ryan Day reveals the mindset of the Buckeyes after beating Texas

“Coming out of that game, they realize they can play with anybody in the country,” Day said Tuesday. “That being said, it is a long season, [and] there are so many corrections that need to be made. There are a lot of improvements that have to happen in all three phases. That’s gonna be the thing as we get back to work here.”

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One of the unique challenges of college football compared to other levels is the lack of preseason tune-ups. In middle school, high school, and even the pros, teams get scrimmages or exhibitions before the real games start. In college, the season begins with live competition, often leading to sloppy play in the opening weeks. That’s why most Power Four programs schedule lighter opponents early on, usually mixing in one marquee matchup.

For Ohio State, that big non-conference test was Texas—and they passed. Up next are Grambling State, a bye week, and then a primetime home game against Ohio University. The Buckeyes will be heavy favorites in both contests, giving them a chance to rotate younger players and build depth.

From there, the focus shifts to the Big Ten schedule, where Penn State and Michigan loom as the two biggest challenges. Illinois could also prove tricky. Still, it sounds like Day and his team have the right mindset after Week 1: don’t get too high too early, and keep grinding.