Ohio State’s Routine Focus: Can Ryan Day End Michigan Losing Streak?
The Ohio State Buckeyes are gearing up for one of the most anticipated games of the season against their arch-rivals, the Michigan Wolverines.
With a four-game losing streak hanging over their heads, Ohio State wants to turn the tide this year.
Head coach Ryan Day has rolled out a series of changes to make the week before The Game feel as routine as possible.
He’s hoping the consistency that’s driven them to an 11-0 start will finally pay off against Michigan.
The Importance of Routine in Ohio State’s Strategy
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Ryan Day keeps hammering home the value of sticking to a consistent routine through the season.
That habit has fueled their 15-game winning streak since last November’s upset by Michigan.
The Buckeyes have worked hard to keep things normal during Michigan week, even though emotions always run high.
Adjustments to the Schedule
In the past, Ohio State changed up their routine during Michigan week.
This year, Day decided to keep things as close to normal as possible.
Instead of moving all media sessions to Monday, the team stuck with their usual Tuesday news conferences and Wednesday player interviews after practice.
They’ll also fly from Columbus to Ann Arbor on Friday instead of taking the bus, hoping to preserve their typical road trip rhythm.
Day put it bluntly: “We know the past four years hasn’t worked. You’ve got to look at these things and try to figure out how to make them better.”
Strategic Changes and Their Impact
Last year, Day gave up play-calling duties—a big move that led to a championship run.
He’s shown he’s willing to shake things up if it helps the team win.
The Buckeyes’ success in the expanded College Football Playoff last season speaks to the impact of these changes.
Preseason and In-Season Preparations
Ohio State’s coaching staff, including athletic director Ross Bjork, chief of staff Quinn Tempel, and strength and conditioning coach Mickey Marotti, mapped out the 2025 schedule week by week.
They talked through preseason camp, game week prep, and even travel plans for their West Coast trip to Washington.
By making these preparations feel routine, the team hopes to avoid distractions and stay locked in.
Day said, “We tried to make it as much of a Playoff routine as possible.”
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That focus on routine has kept Ohio State steady and zeroed in on their process each week.
The Role of Emotions and Consistency
Day knows keeping a routine matters, but he also gets how emotional Michigan week can get.
Last year’s loss and the fight after Michigan planted its flag at Ohio Stadium still stings.
Day’s challenge is to keep his team’s emotions in check while making sure they play with the right edge.
Balancing Emotions and Focus
He’s told the team, “You have to play with emotion, but not let it play with you. You have to use it as nitrous, not as a primary fuel source.”
That’s the idea: channel the emotion for energy, but don’t let it take over.
Receiver Brandon Inniss pointed out, “Coach Day does a great job of addressing our team and keeping us focused. He always says, ‘No distractions,’ and those are just rules we follow.”
Looking Ahead: The Game and Beyond
As Ohio State gets ready for Michigan, the stakes have never felt higher.
The team wants to win The Game, earn the gold pants, and punch their ticket to the Big Ten title game in Indianapolis for the first time since 2020.
They’ll need discipline, sharp focus, and the nerve to execute under pressure.
The Larger Plan
Day’s focus on routine isn’t just for this week—it’s part of a bigger plan for long-term success.
Offseason meetings with key staff set the stage for this, making sure every detail gets planned out and followed through.
Day summed it up: “We know the opponent is different, we know what’s at stake, we know we’re playing for hardware now, but at the end of the day it’s still about us. We can’t all of a sudden change things. We want to keep it as routine as we can knowing, again, we are playing for hardware, not only gold pants, but also an opportunity to get to Indy.”
Conclusion
Ohio State’s made some strategic changes this season. They’re leaning hard into routine, hoping it’ll finally snap their losing streak against Michigan.
The coaches talk a lot about keeping things consistent. They want the team to manage their emotions and stay focused on their goals.
Will it work? Nobody really knows until they hit the field at the Big House on Saturday.
If you want to dig deeper into Ohio State’s prep and strategy, check out the full article on the New York Times.