BUCKEYE RECAP

Coach's Corner

Ryan Day — Head Coach

On this week's marquee matchup:
"This is why you come to Ohio State. This is why you go to Texas to play in games like this. ... We come to Ohio State to play in games like this, and I'm sure Sark would say the same thing to the guys at Texas."

On the offensive line after a shaky Week 1:
"We'll continue to evaluate that throughout the week and figure out if we have the right mix out there. The good news is we do have flexibility if we need to."

On breakout receiver Devin McCuin:
"When I watched him on film I thought he could sort of be like a Chris Olave type. That was sort of the comp. He has high-end speed, he can change direction, he's got really strong hands, good quickness. What I didn't know about him was just his makeup — he's very intelligent, really good route runner. He has experience, he has toughness. He's been great."

On this year's freshman class:
"There are some young freshmen here that I'm really high on. I love the look in their eye. I like the approach that they have. The future is bright with this class."

Brotherhood Bites

James Smith — Defensive Tackle

On the mindset it takes to bring down a mobile quarterback like Arch Manning:
"It takes a different type of mindset to go really get a quarterback down. If a quarterback don't want to go down, that's the hardest position to tackle I feel like. You got to really have that mindset — like, I got to get him."

Christian Alliegro — Linebacker

On choosing Ohio State after Texas recruited him:
"I think I made the right choice being here. I love being at Ohio State."

On defending Arch Manning specifically: Alliegro said the linebackers have been drilling tackling technique against a tall, mobile quarterback all week — no diving at the legs, wrap him up high, because "he's just going to run out of that" if you go low.

Austin Siereveld — Offensive Line

On kicking out to right tackle mid-game against Ball State after Phillip Daniels was benched — his first time playing right tackle in a game (he started at left tackle last season, and moved to guard this year):
"It was the first time out there — I mean, it wasn't pretty. I definitely want to take all those reps back."

On Julian Sayin's growth since last year's Texas game:
"He's just a whole new player. He's a field general... last year during the Texas game we were just calling plays that we know, and now we can check it if we need to, but he's going to lead us and make plays downfield."

Devin Sanchez — Cornerback

On drawing the assignment of covering Texas star receiver Cam Coleman:
"I got to go out there and guard Cam Coleman for however many snaps we play, probably 70 snaps, and I got to do that every play. These guys are really counting on me; I'm counting on myself, my family's counting on me and then this whole fan base is counting on me. So I feel like it's a big task, there's a lot that comes with it, and it's for a guy like me that's not scared of it."

Recruiting Round-up

Five-star 2027 defensive line commit Marcus Fakatou — Ohio State's No. 34 overall recruit in the class, who picked the Buckeyes over Georgia and Texas back in June — will be in Austin Saturday, but as Texas's guest, not Ohio State's. He's not decommitting; he says it's simply respect for a staff that never stopped recruiting him: "Coach Muschamp and coach Clark have kept contact with me since I committed. They haven't broken it. Even though I'm committed, that shows a lot of love from their side so it's only right I go show them love, too."

Ohio State also landed its fifth commit in the 2028 class this week: Luke Sohyda, a three-star tight end from Canonsburg, Pennsylvania — the class's first at the position. He chose the Buckeyes over Maryland, Pittsburgh, NC State, and West Virginia, and was on hand for the Ball State opener before committing. "The opportunity to play for the Buckeyes is huge for me. I text Coach Kee almost daily. Definitely seems like a place I can see myself ending up."

Program News

Fifth-year offensive lineman Carson Hinzman was named to the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Watch List, recognizing his leadership up front since 2023 and his impact in the community outside of football.

What to Watch For

• Right tackle, and the offensive line as a whole.
  Phillip Daniels was benched mid-game against Ball State after a blown assignment stalled Ohio State's opening drive, and every starting lineman graded below 70 in run blocking. Day wouldn't commit to a change as of Tuesday, but said the team has "flexibility if we need to."

• Devin McCuin as the real No. 2 target.
  Day's own comp for him is Chris Olave. Texas will almost certainly roll extra coverage toward Jeremiah Smith — McCuin (6-97-1 in his OSU debut) is the pressure valve if they do.

• A rematch between two starting quarterbacks who are both a full season more experienced.
  Julian Sayin and Arch Manning met as first-time starters last year; Day called them "two totally different players" now.

• Seven Texas-born Buckeyes playing in their home state.
  Including starters Devin Sanchez, Payton Pierce, Devin McCuin, and kicker Connor Hawkins — extra motivation Day himself flagged this week.