Cotton Bowl Media Day: Ohio State Relying on Routine Ahead of CFP Quarterfinal

Posted By on December 29, 2025

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Ohio State met with the media ahead of the Cotton Bowl, and the message is: stick to the routine and rely on our strong foundation.

ARLINGTON, Texas – It is game week for the Cotton Bowl as Ohio State and Miami prepare to meet in Dallas with a trip to the Fiesta Bowl on the line. The Buckeyes and Hurricanes arrived yesterday and met with the media earlier today to discuss the matchup.

Ohio State’s availability was at 9:15 am, followed by a midday break for meetings before a 4:00 pm practice. The Buckeyes elected to stick with their routine 4:00 practice ahead of the Cotton Bowl, which is no surprise to Ryan Day listeners all season.

The leader of the Ohio State football program has preached two things to this group of Buckeyes: routine and foundation. Last year, Ryan Day emphasized the importance of building a strong foundation – brick by brick – because when the storms come, the foundation will be able to withstand them. Day’s claim was evidenced after losing to Michigan, which fueled a generational run in the College Football Playoff that culminated in the school’s ninth National Championship.

Sometimes history is the best teacher, but also an indicator of what’s to come. Wednesday’s matchup against Miami in the Cotton Bowl is Ohio State’s opportunity to continue its story in 2025. It’s the venue where we’ll find out if the Buckeyes can apply the principles from last year to create momentum for this year’s CFP.

Speaking of history, what could we expect from the Buckeyes offensively in Dallas? Before we get to play calling, let’s revisit Ryan Day’s comments from last week, announcing he will be the primary decision maker on the call sheet the rest of the way. He also noted it will be a “group effort.”

Brian Hartline will coach the wide receivers while remaining involved in offensive game planning and play-calling, despite his new role as USF’s head coach. He reinforced those sentiments today, saying he is locked in at Ohio State and Ryan Day will be the primary play caller.

Julian Sayin told me his nickname “J Cool” comes from his ability to be the calm in the storm for the offense and the team. He explained the importance of staying even-keeled and keeping his poise in the noise. No. 10 was composed as usual, as he continues to represent the Scarlet and Gray well.

Last year against Tennessee, Ohio State came out firing on offense and was aggressive throughout the postseason. I expect a similar approach this year. Part of the reason the Buckeyes couldn’t get it done in the Big Ten Championship Game against Indiana was poor execution.

The root cause of that was personnel, in some cases, taking Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate off the field in short-yardage situations. Immediately, that eases the stress on the opposing defense. If Miami is wearing an Oura Ring on Wednesday, Ohio State’s goal is for it to show that Miami is stressed for 3.5 hours.

Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate will be heavily involved in the game plan, but opportunities for Brandon Inniss and the talented tight end room will also play a factor. Of course, these downfield shots and creativity are made possible by protection up front, which is where it starts for the Buckeyes against a vaunted Miami front. Reuben Bain and Akheem Mesidor have wreaked havoc all season and smell blood in the water after Ohio State’s shaky performance in Indianapolis.

However, whenever Ohio State is doubted, or the media says the opposing team has a significant advantage, the Buckeyes seem to show up and remind the country why they’re the standard.

Defensively, Matt Patricia will dial up something special for Carson Beck and the Miami offense, led by Malachi Toney. The speedy yet versatile wide receiver is the featured playmaker that the Buckeyes must limit. The Hurricanes use No. 10 in every way imaginable, and on a big stage against Ohio State, expect him to get as many touches as possible.

Patricia spoke about relying on Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles for the veteran presence and leadership during the playoff run. He said he is constantly learning from the players and staff, especially Ryan Day. This is important because of the contrast between the NFL and College Football in terms of playoff structure and the long layoff between games.

I asked Sonny Styles about what it means to be a Buckeye to him, as a Pickerington native.

He said, “I was always a Buckeye fan growing up, watching Zeke, Cardale, and  Braxton. Those were my superheroes, and now I’m in their shoes. I want to be the correct example for younger kids who watch the Buckeyes now. I’m just taking in every moment. It’s truly a blessing.”

The leaders on this team embody everything right about being a Buckeye, which Ryan Day hit on when he spoke for 4 minutes about the extreme importance of having the right people in the program. He said, “It always comes down to people.” Day continued by quoting Woody Hayes: You win with people. That mantra has been a hallmark of this program for generations, and there’s no better carrier of it than Coach Day in this present era.

“These guys know what they represent, and it’s Ohio State. It’s the state of Ohio. It’s being a Buckeye. They take a lot of pride in that.”

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