Who is Ohio State under Ryan Day? What strengths should the Buckeyes rely on in the College Football Playoff? Ohio State’s program identity hangs in the balance as a heavyweight fight looms against Tennessee. 

Amidst the talk of Ryan Day’s job and whether he’s coaching for it in the CFP, there is a question: What type of team is Ohio State? The dichotomy of the ponderance is that two paths exist: one created by coaching and recruiting and the other by the media and external forces. 

Ryan Day’s scheme consists of a pro-style offensive attack with excellent quarterback and wide receiver play accented by a solid running game. So why do the Buckeyes minimize those components during its biggest games, and the sideline seems so tightly wound? 

The externally generated version of Ohio State is a team that must run the football first and physically and then utilize the talent on the perimeter. The fixation over the rushing battle against Michigan turned the last two games sideways. Ohio State does not have the personnel due to injuries to experiment with a run-first game plan against Tennessee. 

Right now, its identity on offense cannot be a run-first team. Tennessee will want to lull Ohio State into a physical rock fight in the cold, run the football, and make the Buckeyes deal with their defensive line. As recent history tells us, that’s the recipe to beat Ohio State. 

Ohio State can’t do that. This is almost a repeat of the Michigan game setup. Now, Tennessee is a better team than Michigan, but stylistically, they approach the game the same way. Dylan Sampson is arguably the top running back in the SEC, and the Volunteers boast one of the best rushing attacks, too. 

Tennessee also has a better quarterback and wide receivers, but Ohio State can’t approach the game by saying, “We’re back at home. We’re going to try to force-feed running the football.” Ohio State will likely not be able to run between the tackles against Tennessee consistently.

Ryan Day, Chip Kelly, and the offense must return to their roots and maximize the wide receiver skill from Jeremiah Smith, Emeka Egbuka, Carnell Tate, and others. Will Howard should also be included in the run game, and then gap schemes should be used with TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins instead of primarily running inside to prove toughness. 

As a program, Ohio State cannot afford another identity crisis game on the big stage. Ryan Day’s bread and butter is carving up opposing defenses down and across the field. Howard must play dynamic and distribute the ball. That is the path to victory for the Buckeyes on offense. 

Defensively, Jim Knowles and the Silver Bullets know what’s at stake, plus the injuries on the offensive line. The added pressure to shoulder the playoff run is immense, but they’re up for the challenge. 

Ohio State can win the game on defense, if needed, according to Knowles, and it just may have to on a frigid December night in Columbus. Regardless, Saturday is an identity game for Ryan Day and the Buckeyes, and it’s time the Scarlet and Gray play Ohio State football again on the biggest stage.