COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — After three weeks, Ohio State remains undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the country, but the Buckeyes are not satisfied.
Head coach Ryan Day, offensive coordinator Brian Hartline and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia addressed reporters Tuesday afternoon at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. Day said the team will practice Wednesday and Thursday before taking Friday and Saturday off.
“We’re going to work hard on fundamentals in the areas we need to improve,” Day said. “We know the next four games are going to be a challenge.”
Ohio State opened the season with a 14-7 win over then-No. 1 Texas, followed by victories over Grambling State and Ohio to complete its nonconference schedule.
The Buckeyes will enter a bye week before opening Big Ten play on Sept. 27 at Washington. The game in Seattle is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff and will be the first of three Big Ten road games for Ohio State in a four-week span.
“If you give them the opportunity to be loud, it will be loud,” Hartline said of the atmosphere at Husky Stadium. “We’ll operate as if we won’t be able to hear ourselves. It’s one of the best environments on the West Coast.”
Day said he wants to see improvement in all three phases of the game, particularly on offense. Sophomore quarterback Julian Sayin struggled to produce a touchdown on the first three drives against Ohio, despite several red-zone opportunities.
“He’s grown and done a really good job. He definitely has some learning opportunities every week,” Hartline said. “His ability to take that information and apply it will ultimately continue that growth.”
Ohio State owns the nation’s longest active winning streak at seven games, dating to last season’s College Football Playoff victory over Tennessee. While the offense was the highlight of that playoff run, the Buckeyes’ defense has stood out in the first three games of 2025.
Patricia’s defense has allowed just 16 points in three games, including a shutout against Grambling State.
“It is such a joy to be around these guys,” Patricia said. “You walk into the meeting room, they are very serious, they want to take notes, they want to learn what the game plan is.”
